Mickelson’s actions at U.S. Open still a hot topic
CROMWELL — Phil Mickelson’s Shot Heard ’Round the Golfing World remained a contentious topic Tuesday afternoon at the Travelers Championship.
While the five-time major winner was nowhere near TPC River Highlands, Mickelson’s actions during the third round of the U.S. Open were met with a wide range of emotions — from shock and disappointment to humor — from his peers.
“I think a lot of people think it’s funny, but it’s just really unfortunate that it happened at the USGA’s tournament where they enforce the rules like the (Royal and Ancient Golf Club),” Jason Day said during a break on the practice range. “I think they probably should’ve enforced a different outcome for Phil.
“Like I said, it’s disappointing that that is overshadowing the winner of the whole week. I think if they had it back again, they might have chosen a different outcome.”
Mickelson hit his ball out of frustration as it rolled beyond the 13th hole at Shinnecock Hills on Saturday. The USGA subsequently decided that Mickelson’s illegal shot warranted a two-shot penalty — not a disqualification.
“I thought Phil could’ve handled it differently,” Graeme McDowell said. “I thought if he had just held his hands up and said, ‘Hey, I messed up,’ it was just a crazy moment of insanity. I think it would’ve went away. Watching it, it was just a moment of insanity.”
McDowell, after shooting 9-over par to miss the cut, took to social media to air out many of his feelings on Mickelson. “If it had went in I think Phil gets an invite to @usopen tennis for that kind of touch around the net!!!!!!” he joked on Twitter on Sunday
Mickelson carded a 10 on the hole and finished 16-over par for the tournament.
“I don’t think he needed to justify it,” McDowell said. “Just say, ‘Listen, I can’t believe I just did that.’ It’s a pretty heavy penalty, and he doesn’t need to be crucified on top of that.”
Jordan Spieth, who like McDowell missed the cut, said he found the incident to be “really funny.” So, too, did Keegan Bradley.
“Phil knows the rules,” Spieth said. “If there was a chance it was going to go back behind the bunker and he’s got to chip back or … play off the green anyway, he was potentially saving himself a shot. So if that was the intent, then what’s the harm in that? He’s playing the best score he can.
“I don’t think people thought that was the intent, but I’ll take his word.”
Added Bradley: “Phil’s got some of the most integrity of anybody out here. I think what he did was funny.” SIMILAR POSITION FOR STEGMAIER: Madison native Brett Stegmaier sits in a similar position to a year ago: trying to chase down a spot in the final top 125 of the FedExCup standings.
Stegmaier, 34, is currently 195th in the standings. He needs some good performances this summer in order to secure a spot.
“I played well here last year (tie for 26th place) but came in not feeling all that confident,” Stegmaier said. “This year has been a weird year. I missed four cuts by a shot, and the weeks I made the cut, I didn’t have good weekends. You don’t make too many points when you finish 40th or 50th.”
Stegmaier, a former member at New Haven CC, said he will play seven of the next eight weeks, including this one. It is approximately two months before the playoffs begin.
For the first time, Steg- maier is spending the week in a hotel. His parents, former Hamden residents, have moved to Vero Beach, Fla., about an hour from their son. But his parents, along with several others, will be at TPC River Highlands to root him on.
“The biggest thing is confidence,” Stegmaier said. “I feel good Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, then tee off Thursday, I’m 2-over (par) through 4, and obviously my confidence isn’t high. You play one good week, play good the next week and it starts snowballing. I think things have snowballed in the wrong direction this year.”
Stegmaier will tee off at 1:50 p.m. on the 10th hole Thursday.
SPIETH TALKS HISTORY: Spieth’s chip for birdie out of the bunker on 18 to beat Daniel Berger in a playoff is close to a year old. Asked Tuesday whether he’s tried to replicate the shot during his return to Cromwell, Spieth replied, “I didn’t. I told (my caddie) Michael (Greller) I know what it does, so I don’t need to practice it today.”
Spieth said what sticks out most about the shot is the celebration, during which Spieth tossed his club and Greller tossed a rake. The pair then bumped chests.
“That was pretty special,” Spieth said. “I don’t think we could do that again no matter how many times we tried. Michael just throwing the rake up in the air, and the fact that nobody got hurt with either one of those was great.”
THE CHAMP IS (ALMOST) HERE: Brooks Koepka, who won the U.S. Open and has already confirmed his commitment to play in the Travelers, is expected to arrive Wednesday. He will not be participating in the Celebrity Pro-Am.
— Joe Morelli contributed to this report