Birthday bash leaves Mickelson out of whack
SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — The golf world watched Phil Mickelson melt down Saturday afternoon: He jogged after yet another errant putt and shockingly swatted the moving ball back toward the hole with his putter.
For such a serious breach of golf ’s rules, Mickelson could have been disqualified from the championship. In a technicality, or a generous rules interpretation by the U.S. Golf Association, Mickelson was assessed only a two-stroke penalty and allowed to play on.
But the bigger damage came after Mickelson’s third round at the Shinnecock Hills Golf Club ended with a score of 81, which left him a humiliating 17-over par for the tournament.
Mickelson insisted he had not acted in haste or irritation. He said he knew that the penalty for striking a moving ball was two strokes, and he had quickly determined that was a better result than letting his wayward putt roll off the green into worse shape.
“I’ve thought about doing the same thing many times in my career,” Mickelson said. “I just did it this time. It was something I did to take advantage of the rules as best I can.”
Mickelson is a five-time major champion who has finished second at the U.S. Open six times. The championship began poorly for him in the form of a first-round 77. He rallied Friday to make the cut when 14 other major champions could not. On Saturday, Mickelson arrived at the first tee with fans singing “Happy Birthday” in tribute to his 48th. He smiled and gave his hallmark thumbs-up gesture over and over to thunderous ovations.
Things started out reasonably well, but beginning with the eighth hole, he made four consecutive bogeys. Then came the par-4 13th.
His tee shot was in the fairway, but his second and third shots did not find the green. Soon he had a 25-foot downhill putt for bogey. The ball missed the hole and kept going. Mickelson paused, then gave chase. When he caught up to the ball, he whacked it back up the hill and past the hole again. His next putt was from 7 feet, and it lipped out. He tapped into an 8 that became a 10 with the two-stroke penalty.
His playing partner, English golfer Andrew
Johnston, who goes by the nickname Beef, started laughing. He saw the scene for what it was.
“A moment of madness,” Johnston said after the round. “It was funny. Phil said, ‘I don’t know what that is or what that score is.’”
Mickelson said he had not acted without thought and logic, and he did not think he had in any way disrespected the game of golf by taking advantage of the rules.
“I didn’t mean it disrespectfully, but if you’re going to take it that way, that’s not on me,” Mickelson said. “I’m sorry you’re taking it that way. I was just going back and forth. In that situation, I would gladly take two strokes. I don’t see how knowing the rules and using the rules is a manipulation in any way.”
USGA accepts the blame
The USGA has apologized for how unfair the Shinnecock Hills course was in the third round of the U.S. Open.
Only three players shot under par — co-leaders Daniel Berger and Tony Finau with 66s, and Kiradech Aphibarnrat with a 68. Two others were at even par: Gary Woodland and Brian Gay.
Meanwhile, there were eight rounds of 80 or higher, including Rickie Fowler with an 84 and
Phil Mickelson at 81. “It was a tale of two golf courses, and no doubt, we would admit, well-executed shots were not only not regarded, but were punished,” said
Mike Davis, the USGA’s executive director and the man in charge of course setup. “We would say that it was a very tough test, and really too tough this afternoon.”
Davis promised to slow down the course for Sunday’s final round.