Mickelson apologizes for frustration at U.S. Open

NEW YORK — Phil Mickelson apologized four days after intentionally violating golf rules by hitting a moving ball on the green at the U.S. Open, saying his frustration got the best of him.

The apology came Wednesday in a statement released by his representatives.

“I know this should’ve come sooner, but it’s taken me a few days to calm down,” Mickelson said. “My anger and frustration got the best of me last weekend. I’m embarrassed and disappointed by my actions. It ZDV FOHDUO\ QRW P\ ¿QHVW PRPHQW and I’m sorry.”

Mickelson was struggling in the third round when he reached the 13th green.

His bogey putt from above the hole ran by the cup and was headed down a slope when he trotted over and swatted it back toward the hole with the ball still in motion. He was assessed a two-stroke penalty, scored a 10 on the hole and wound up shooting 81.

Peter Thomson D ¿YH WLPH ZLQner of the British Open and the only player in the 20th century to win the tournament for three straight years, died Wednesday. He was 88.

Thomson had been suffering from Parkinson’s disease for more than four years and died at his Melbourne home surrounded by family members, Golf Australia said.

7KH ¿UVW $XVWUDOLDQ WR ZLQ WKH British Open, Thomson went on WR VHFXUH WKH WLWOH ¿YH WLPHV IURP 1954-56 and again in 1958 and ’65, a record equaled only by American Tom Watson.

Hall of Fame golfer Hubert Green, who won a U.S. Open playing SRUWLRQV RI WKH ¿QDO URXQG GHVSLWH a threat against his life, died of throat cancer. He was 71.

Green held a one-stroke lead at Southern Hills in Tulsa, Oklahoma, when he completed the 14th hole RI WKH ¿QDO URXQG RI WKH 8 6 2SHQ +H WKHQ ZDV QRWL¿HG E\ WRXUQDPHQW RI¿FLDOV WKH\ KDG UHFHLYHG D WKUHDW saying he would be shot when he reached the 15th green.

He chose to continue playing and even birdied the 16th hole before ¿QLVKLQJ ZLWK D RQH VWURNH YLFWRU\