Should Mickelson have been DQ'd?

[ColdNoMore]

I like Phil a lot and was really rooting for him to make this the year when he completed the 'career slam,' but his actions today...were over the line IMHO. :ohdear:

It looks like I'm not the only one either.

U.S. Open: Phil Mickelson explains away meltdown (https://sports.yahoo.com/u-s-open-phil-mickelsons-con-job-doesnt-add-220242033.html?src=rss)

Column: On 48th birthday, Mickelson acts like a 10-year-old - NY Daily News (http://www.nydailynews.com/newswires/sports/column-48th-birthday-mickelson-acts-10-year-old-article-1.4038321)

Phil Mickelson stunningly hits moving ball on purpose for 2-shot penalty | Golfweek (https://golfweek.com/2018/06/16/phil-mickelson-stunningly-hits-moving-ball-taking-2-shot-penalty-on-purpose/)

This isn’t the first time this has happened in a U.S. Open. John Daly hit a moving ball in protest of unfair pins at the 1999 U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2. Daly would make an 11 (after the two-shot penalty) on that par-4 eighth on his way to a final-round 13-over 83.


I just hate that he will now be thought of as being in the same category as that embarrassment to golf...John Daly. :oops:

[Nucky]

He made an error in judgment, took the penalty. Case closed. Nobody is perfect.

[jebartle]

It was a birthday present, ha!

[Two Bills]

Deliberately stopping the ball, which Michleson said he did, "to stop it rolling off the green" is disqualification. Simple.
If he was making a point about the ridiculous set up of the course, have the balls to say so.
Worse than that though, is the so called fans abusive behaviour towards any non-American player. The drunken mob are beneath contempt.

[Villageswimmer]

Deliberately stopping the ball, which Michleson said he did, "to stop it rolling off the green" is disqualification. Simple.
If he was making a point about the ridiculous set up of the course, have the balls to say so.
Worse than that though, is the so called fans abusive behaviour towards any non-American player. The drunken mob are beneath contempt.


Ya know, I thought I detected that but the announcers seemed to try to work around it and ignore that chanting. How classless. You could see on Stinson’s face that he was super annoyed. That, and the Phil thing...sad day for golf in the U.S.

[graciegirl]

Ya know, I thought I detected that but the announcers seemed to try to work around it and ignore that chanting. How classless. You could see on Stinson’s face that he was super annoyed. That, and the Phil thing...sad day for golf in the U.S.

I think you are right. I hope it isn't the beginning of something ugly. I have always liked golf partly because people generally behave more like ladies and gentlemen than in any other popular sport.

[bilcon]

I guess all the perfect people who commented on Phil's frustration yesterday never had a bad day on the course. I am not a big fan of Phil, but every once in a while golf can get to you. You have a very bad day and you react negatively. He didn't throw a club or break one. I guess he is human after all.

[Carla B]

I think you are right. I hope it isn't the beginning of something ugly. I have always liked golf partly because people generally behave more like ladies and gentlemen than in any other popular sport.

Yes, and they generally don't have tatoos and piercing and weird hair dos. Quite civilized.

[Two Bills]

Ya know, I thought I detected that but the announcers seemed to try to work around it and ignore that chanting. How classless. You could see on Stinson’s face that he was super annoyed. That, and the Phil thing...sad day for golf in the U.S.

'Ice Man' Stenson is super cool, and never gets uptight. For him to even react to crowd, shows how bad it was out there.
I thought all non Americans handled the abuse very well. Poulter, must have been spitting nails, as he was singled out more than anyone. The way he handled it shows the class the spectators lacked.

[Two Bills]

I guess all the perfect people who commented on Phil's frustration yesterday never had a bad day on the course. I am not a big fan of Phil, but every once in a while golf can get to you. You have a very bad day and you react negitively. He didn't throw a club or break one. I guess he is human after all.

John Daly was slaughtered by the press and public for doing the same thing, but as it's 'good old Phil,' lets all look the other way.
Not in my book. That's cheating.

[Fredman]

Just a bunch of drunken young guys. Maybe they would act more civilized if they didn’t have such easy access to booze. Their actions were completely unacceptable

[DeanFL]

IMO - Much ado about not much. oooooooo, the rules of golf.....ooooooo, disrespect for other players and the game, ooooooo, ruins his career and legacy.

C'mon all - even though the PGA and USGA controls pro golf like it's sanctimonious and pious - it's a sport played by humans with tons o' rules for a lot of money.

So - a player out of contention with no chance to challenge a top 30 finish - allows his emotions to react on the green...big deal. He accepted the penalty, and perhaps the USGA will disqualify him for the final round. Yet another big name pro is out of Sunday US Open. Most are out due to a course (un)prepped to be uncontrollable (and "Challenging").

OK, Phil's reasoning during his postgame interview was hokey and not totally truthful. But he was embarrassed and simply did not want the 13th to continue on. How many of us did the same move of the putter when missing putts? Yes, not during a major tourney...but Phil IS HUMAN and allowed his emotions to spurt. Let it go...

Another note - HOW BAD is the TV coverage by Fox? So many audio and video glitches - the crowd yelling is embarrassing...esp the XXX rated ones...need to have an 8-second delay...too many talking heads...and truthfully I am not a fan of links courses - IMO the aesthetics on TV is not eye-appealing.

OK I'm done. 2 stroke penalty on ToTV...

[stan the man]

Phil's post game interview was a joke. Never really apologize for what he did made an excuse that he was using the rules to his advantage. Had plenty of time to think of an excuse while playing the rest of the match. Yes they crucified John Daly for what he did and I think Phil should be crucified as well. Everybody loves Phil, The poor little rich kid from San Diego

[valuemkt]

Watched Calvin Peete do the same thing at the BC Open years ago .. Immediate DQ, which he wanted, as his bad round didnt figure into his standing for some low stroke award .. That was classless, as was Phil's .. Should have been DQ'd .. unfortunately, there will be more and more excuses for this being out of character and he'll be given slack that other players wouldn't.

[collie1228]

I listened to the USGA official last evening who said that Phil had reached out to him (text, I believe) to say that he thought the rule was a two stroke penalty, but if the USGA thought he should be disqualified, he wouldn't argue about it. He should have been disqualified, but now that it's over, we all should move on. If I were Phil, I would call a news conference this morning, make a statement saying I was sorry and was dropping out of the tournament, and would answer any and all questions right now, but would never respond to a question about this situation again - ever. If he doesn't put his foot down, these ******* reporters will never stop asking the same questions over and over.

[Marathon Man]

IMO - Much ado about not much. oooooooo, the rules of golf.....ooooooo, disrespect for other players and the game, ooooooo, ruins his career and legacy.

C'mon all - even though the PGA and USGA controls pro golf like it's sanctimonious and pious - it's a sport played by humans with tons o' rules for a lot of money.

So - a player out of contention with no chance to challenge a top 30 finish - allows his emotions to react on the green...big deal. He accepted the penalty, and perhaps the USGA will disqualify him for the final round. Yet another big name pro is out of Sunday US Open. Most are out due to a course (un)prepped to be uncontrollable (and "Challenging").

OK, Phil's reasoning during his postgame interview was hokey and not totally truthful. But he was embarrassed and simply did not want the 13th to continue on. How many of us did the same move of the putter when missing putts? Yes, not during a major tourney...but Phil IS HUMAN and allowed his emotions to spurt. Let it go...

Another note - HOW BAD is the TV coverage by Fox? So many audio and video glitches - the crowd yelling is embarrassing...esp the XXX rated ones...need to have an 8-second delay...too many talking heads...and truthfully I am not a fan of links courses - IMO the aesthetics on TV is not eye-appealing.

OK I'm done. 2 stroke penalty on ToTV...

Yea. I gotta mostly agree with this. Pro players in all sports sometimes do things that they shouldn't. They get penalized according to the rules of their sport and life goes on. Phil's actions will have zero affect on the tournament except for the news coverage.

Having said that - If this is to be considered a major no-no, then the USGA can create a rule to address it. Kinda like: "You can't ask your fans to get together and roll a boulder out of the way."

[CFrance]

I don't really care much about Phil Mickelson, but could somebody provide a link or just tell me what the crowd was doing? I didn't see the broadcast.

The only other polite fans are/(but are changing to were) tennis fans. (Except at the US Open in NYC, which has always been rowdy.)

[DeanFL]

, but could somebody provide a link or just tell me what the crowd was doing? I didn't see the broadcast.




Just google it - but...you know how golf fans yell out "IN THE HOLE!!!". It was kinda like that - but VERY much more XXX descriptive...

[CFrance]

Just google it - but...you know how golf fans yell out "IN THE HOLE!!!". It was kinda like that - but VERY much more XXX descriptive...
Thanks. At first I came up with just stuff about the players, so I changed my search terms and got what I wanted.

[golfing eagles]

Deliberately stopping the ball, which Michleson said he did, "to stop it rolling off the green" is disqualification. Simple.
If he was making a point about the ridiculous set up of the course, have the balls to say so.
Worse than that though, is the so called fans abusive behaviour towards any non-American player. The drunken mob are beneath contempt.

Actually, it is not. In the decisions on the rules of golf, rule 1-2, they use the example of a golfer pitching up a slope short and the ball starts rolling back to him. He runs up and stops the ball with his clubhead. The decision explicitly states that this "was not a serious breach", and he is assessed 2 strokes and plays it where he stopped it.

[CFrance]

Actually, it is not. In the decisions on the rules of golf, rule 1-2, they use the example of a golfer pitching up a slope short and the ball starts rolling back to him. He runs up and stops the ball with his clubhead. The decision explicitly states that this "was not a serious breach", and he is assessed 2 strokes and plays it where he stopped it.
That's good to know about the two strokes. When I do that I either keep hitting or give up on the hole. Many more than two strokes for this beginner. I would rather take the two strokes and play the rest of the hole.

[golf2140]

Where is it being played, Oh New York with a train that runs out of the city to the course.

[Daddymac]

Love Phil———-
BUT ******* Your Out !!!
If one does it, Next they will say. “ Phil did it”

[Rapscallion St Croix]

I think we need a sub-forum where the USGA/RA/PGA Tour rules officials can ask TOTV members to interpret the rules and make decisions for them.

[dewilson58]

Over blown.

[DonH57]

I think we need a sub-forum where the USGA/RA/PGA Tour rules officials can ask TOTV members to interpret the rules and make decisions for them.

LOL. Good one! : )

[Bjeanj]

I think we need a sub-forum where the USGA/RA/PGA Tour rules officials can ask TOTV members to interpret the rules and make decisions for them.

What an excellent idea!

:a20:

[Nucky]

I usually stop the ball like Phil did then have my Grandson hold the Blades on the WindMill add one stroke penalty because he doesn't know about the two-stroke rule and then have Ice Cream and come home. No matter what I always win because he doesn't know how to add when we go in to have our scorecard signed at the snack bar.

[blueash]

Mickelson's post round excuse that he knew about the two stroke penalty and thought taking it would save him strokes on the hole was a lie. He lied to the public about his reasoning trying to make it a strategic ploy within the rules. His new nickname with be "Lying Phil". Whenever his gets a bad lie it will remind everyone of this bad lie.

" When a rules official approached, Mickelson told him, “Whatever I got, I got. I don’t care,” according to a nearby witness"

versus his later statement

"I don't mean disrespect to anybody," Mickelson said after his round. "I know it's a two-shot penalty. At that time, I just didn't feel like going back and forth and hitting the same shot over. I took the two-shot penalty and moved on. It's my understanding of the rules. I've had multiple times where I've wanted to do that. I just finally did"

[JoMar]

Much ado about nothing......if everyone played by the rules everyone in TV would be disqualified and all the courses deserted. If I was Phil, after shooting the 81 and being as wealthy as he is, I would be begging to be DQ'd so I could head home and enjoy Fathers Day with the family.

[golfing eagles]

Mickelson's post round excuse that he knew about the two stroke penalty and thought taking it would save him strokes on the hole was a lie. He lied to the public about his reasoning trying to make it a strategic ploy within the rules. His new nickname with be "Lying Phil". Whenever his gets a bad lie it will remind everyone of this bad lie.


versus his later statement

There's a HUGE difference between knowing about the 2 shot penalty, which just about every golfer beyond hacker knows, and knowing his total score on the hole after what he did. Yet you know he was lying? Judge much?????

[Happy Snowbird]

He probably wanted disqualified to be put out of his misery!! A news article quoted his wife as saying that Phil offered to withdraw.

[graciegirl]

Mickelson's post round excuse that he knew about the two stroke penalty and thought taking it would save him strokes on the hole was a lie. He lied to the public about his reasoning trying to make it a strategic ploy within the rules. His new nickname with be "Lying Phil". Whenever his gets a bad lie it will remind everyone of this bad lie.


versus his later statement

I don't look at it like that. He will still be "lefty" to me.

[dewilson58]

Over blown.


Agree!!!


Oh wait, that was my post.


:a20:

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Why would think he should be disqualified. The penalty for hitting a moving ball is two strokes. He accepted the penalty and completed the hole, completed the round and completed the tournament. Everything was within the rules of golf.

Phil's action was actually a pretty smart strategy as he knew exactly what he was doing and was simply taking advantage of the rules. had he let the ball go, it would have rolled down behind the bunker where he would have had no chance of getting it up and down and it was likely that it would end up rolling off the green again and again.

What's the difference between that and taking a drop from an obstruction in the rough onto the fringe as the rules allow?

[ColdNoMore]

Why would think he should be disqualified. The penalty for hitting a moving ball is two strokes. He accepted the penalty and completed the hole, completed the round and completed the tournament. Everything was within the rules of golf.

Phil's action was actually a pretty smart strategy as he knew exactly what he was doing and was simply taking advantage of the rules. had he let the ball go, it would have rolled down behind the bunker where he would have had no chance of getting it up and down and it was likely that it would end up rolling off the green again and again.

What's the difference between that and taking a drop from an obstruction in the rough onto the fringe as the rules allow?

You obviously didn't read the links I put in the first post. :oops:

Hint...Rule 1-2.


Rule 1-2 states that a player must not take action with the intent of influencing the movement of a ball in play.

A serious breach of that rule means the rules committee can impose a penalty of DQ.

In other words, the USGA made a 'judgment call' in not invoking 1-2...which they very well could/should have.

It isn't nearly as cut & dried...as you're trying to make it.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

You obviously didn't read the links I put in the first post. :oops:

Hint...Rule 1-2.



In other words, the USGA made a 'judgment call' in not invoking 1-2...which they very well could/should have.

It isn't nearly as cut & dried...as you're trying to make it.

What's your point? The USGA, who writes and interprets the rules and their committee that understands the rules better than anyone on the planet decided that it wasn't a serious breach.

I supposed they could have invoked disqualification but I would defer to people who are much more knowledgeable about the rules than I am before I would say, "should have".

[ColdNoMore]

What's your point? The USGA, who writes and interprets the rules and their committee that understands the rules better than anyone on the planet decided that it wasn't a serious breach.

I supposed they could have invoked disqualification but I would defer to people who are much more knowledgeable about the rules than I am before I would say, "should have".


Here's my point...

Why Phil Mickelson didn'''t get disqualified from the U.S. Open | Golf.com (http://www.golf.com/tour-news/2018/06/16/why-phil-mickelson-didnt-get-disqualified-us-open)


David Fay, the top man at the USGA before retiring in 2010, said that after hearing Mickelson's remarks after the round, Fay would take a different view than the USGA committee that assessed the two-shot penalty.

"I probably would’ve lost, but I would’ve lobbied for disqualification," Fay said.


Are you now going to try and argue that David Fay..."isn't qualified or knowledgeable?" :oops:

As I said, it isn't nearly as cut & dried...as you seem to think. :ohdear:

[DonH57]

I'm certainly no PGA rules expert but just another observer in the comfort of their living room with rule book, wings, and Budweiser. Are the rules committee referring to Exception 1, and or note 1 and 2 of rule 1-2 ? Just curiosity on my part.

[DeanFL]

OK ToTVrs. 2018 US Open is over.

Can we please forgive and forget...about Mickelson's error in judgement...that's what I believe it was, and that his emotions got the best of him. period

from:

Amy Mickelson: Phil Mickelson offered to withdraw from U.S. Open
Beth Ann Nichols, Golfweek


Amy Mickelson, dressed in solid black like her husband, stood off the side of the pro shop porch. For as long as they’ve been in this together, Saturday night at the U.S. Open was like nothing they’d experienced before. Phil knew the rule, Amy said, but when he got home and heard all the talk about disqualification, he picked up the phone during the afternoon telecast.

“When he heard that, he called Mike Davis and said, ‘If I’ve done something that crosses the line that much, then I need to withdraw immediately,’ ” Amy said.

Davis, the USGA's CEO, assured Phil that he was well within the rules. He closed with a 1-under 69 on a much more receptive Shinnecock Hills.

“You know it’s not his finest moment,” said Amy, “but hopefully he’ll learn from it. Like anybody, good people make mistakes. We all have a moment in life sometimes and that was kind of a moment I think for him.”

[jjcash]

Two points: First, the NY area golf fans are notorious for their terrible behavior. Trust me; the players hate it. But they "say" they like it because if they bitch, the fans will REALLY light 'em up. It's golf, not basketball, football, baseball or hockey. They think that owning a ticket entitles to act like jerks. I'd leave room for the possibility that the U.S. Open and PGA Championship ditch the NY area in the future, giving those fans what they deserve. Act like that at Augusta and you're gone--also losing you "grandfathered" ticket status.

Second: Phil has used his popularity to make points on past issues (like threatening to move to Florida to avoid California's prohibitive taxes--just like other pros). I get Phil's point--if he was also making one. The USGA does not choose to learn from its previous mistakes that resulted in unfair course setups. Mike Davis, the PGA's course set-up guy missed his weather forecast. These players are "entertainer/athletes. I was not "entertained". In my view, it wasn't golf--it was Putt-Putt. I'm a P.G.T.A.Master Golf Teacher, playing better than scratch--when my back is not bothering me. But if the USGA offered to fly me to LaGuardia, chopper me over to this course as it is, let me play for free and fly me home, I'd pass. It wouldn't be fun shooting over 100.

[mrf6969]

Phil's post game interview was a joke. Never really apologize for what he did made an excuse that he was using the rules to his advantage. Had plenty of time to think of an excuse while playing the rest of the match. Yes they crucified John Daly for what he did and I think Phil should be crucified as well. Everybody loves Phil, The poor little rich kid from San Diego

And you forgot to say that he is great for the game. A true fan favorite, even in NEW YORK! He is always the guy to take care of the fans and sign autographs especially for the kids. He is a great father and family man. Best of all he is human as shown by his frustration in this tournament.

[B-flat]

He made an error in judgment, took the penalty. Case closed. Nobody is perfect.

Plus one.

[Robert56]

He’s human. The pressure got to him momentarily. He recovered quickly. Took the penalty and moved on. Handled all interviews professionally.
Case closed.
Thanks

[stan the man]

OK ToTVrs. 2018 US Open is over.

Can we please forgive and forget...about Mickelson's error in judgement...that's what I believe it was, and that his emotions got the best of him. period

from:

Amy Mickelson: Phil Mickelson offered to withdraw from U.S. Open
Beth Ann Nichols, Golfweek


Amy Mickelson, dressed in solid black like her husband, stood off the side of the pro shop porch. For as long as they’ve been in this together, Saturday night at the U.S. Open was like nothing they’d experienced before. Phil knew the rule, Amy said, but when he got home and heard all the talk about disqualification, he picked up the phone during the afternoon telecast.

“When he heard that, he called Mike Davis and said, ‘If I’ve done something that crosses the line that much, then I need to withdraw immediately,’ ” Amy said.

Davis, the USGA's CEO, assured Phil that he was well within the rules. He closed with a 1-under 69 on a much more receptive Shinnecock Hills.

“You know it’s not his finest moment,” said Amy, “but hopefully he’ll learn from it. Like anybody, good people make mistakes. We all have a moment in life sometimes and that was kind of a moment I think for him.”

I really own that bridge I'm selling

[stan the man]

He’s human. The pressure got to him momentarily. He recovered quickly. Took the penalty and moved on. Handled all interviews professionally.
Case closed.
Thanks

One persons opinion

[dolphin]

Agree. Everyone has a bad day BUT he should have Simply “manned up”and said he made a mistake an blew his Kool versus trying to explain it off Mistake on his part, but let’s move on. Overall, he is a credit to the game.

However,he should have been DQ. Was not because he was Phil.

[dolphin]

Agreed. Some fans are ignorant. This seems to becoming a trend. Not good

[Cedwards38]

Yes, he should have been. And then he should have apologized for losing his cool and we forgive him and move on.

[rsgolfer]

The real penalty should have been assessed on the USGA. Players on Saturday afternoon were at a 3 to 4 stroke disadvantage. The USGA knew this could and likely would happen, but selected this course anyway and then did not provide for it.

[rsgolfer]

Jjcash - Your response is spot on. The combination of unruly fans and the unplayable course conditions was extremely frustrating for the players. I feel especially bad for DJ.

[Nucky]

Plus one.

Expand on your reply, please.

[OhioBuckeye]

I hear what people are saying about how Phil shouldn't have done what he did but I'm sure Phil knew exactly what he was doing. If you watched the Open you could see how many players missed 2 to 5 ft. puts either came up short or if they hit their 3 ft. putt & missed it rolled 10 ft. past or off the green. This wasn't just Mickelson it was most of the players. Besides I'm sure Phil wasn't going to win it or be in the top 10 finishers at 13 or 14 over at that time. I'm really surprise more people that made comments here didn't say, I wonder how many players will want to come back to this course & play. The course was terrible! I'm glad to see Phil showing his frustration in how bad this course was! Just my opinion, I'm just an amateur just like most of us that are making my opinions about Phil. Just to bad Phil didn't play better & did what he did though!

[CFrance]

Expand on your reply, please.
Nucky, they use that term on a business management forum I follow. It means whoever said it agrees with you. Only on that forum it's usually expressed by "+1," so maybe this isn't what B-flat meant.

[jimh24444@gmail.com]

What Phil did that was most annoying is disrespect his playing partner who was fighting to make a check out there. Beef Johnson's score went out the window, yet it was all about Phil.

[lwmilo]

Why was the course so rough for the ELITE golfers and for the most part with exception of the winner, and not so rough for the non elites..THEY ALL PLAYED THE SAME COURSE. A gentlemen's game my BUTT..
NON GOLFER.. !!

[Nucky]

Nucky, they use that term on a business management forum I follow. It means whoever said it agrees with you. Only on that forum it's usually expressed by "+1," so maybe this isn't what B-flat meant.

Thanks, CFrance I thought it was something positive. Just unfamiliar with a whole lot of terms I read on here. Urban Dictionary usually answers most questions I have. Bless You. :clap2:

[Bruiser1]

Yes Phil "the Thrill's" action was unprofessional. As David Fay would suggest "he could have been disqualified". On the spur of the moment , the staff made an appropriate decision to penalize him 2 strokes.

NY courses are notiorious for drawing unruly crowds. Historically there have been countless acts of bad behavior . Look at the History of Bethpage Black etc. Colin Montgomery was taunted as "Mrs Doubtfire". Sergio was harassed after his endless waggling the club. And how about the endless " BAba Booey!" (Howard Stern reference) screams. You get one of the biggest cities in the world ..take a train ride.. apply copious amounts of beer and viola you don't have the peaceful venue of the golf course.

Yes Phil is one of the crowd favorites..And yes the PGA does treat their "cash cows " different from "Beef Johnson"..but Imagine if that crowd would have heard that Phil had been DQ . That could have turned into a real ugly scene

[JGVillages]

Here's my point...

Why Phil Mickelson didn'''t get disqualified from the U.S. Open | Golf.com (http://www.golf.com/tour-news/2018/06/16/why-phil-mickelson-didnt-get-disqualified-us-open)





Are you now going to try and argue that David Fay..."isn't qualified or knowledgeable?" :oops:

As I said, it isn't nearly as cut & dried...as you seem to think. :ohdear:

Here is the problem:
“A serious breach of that rule means the rules committee can impose a penalty of DQ.”

The USGA rule is not ironclad when they state “ serious” and “can impose a penalty”. This leaves the players action open to interpretation of both these phrases by the committee. Best guess the wording should/will be addressed to make the rule ironclad. List the specific exceptions ie: wind moving ball as it was struck, and so on. Beyond the specific exceptions it’s a DQ.

[JGVillages]

Why was the course so rough for the ELITE golfers and for the most part with exception of the winner, and not so rough for the non elites..THEY ALL PLAYED THE SAME COURSE. A gentlemen's game my BUTT..
NON GOLFER.. !!

Good point. I believe it was PJ Boatright, That said about the course controversy in 2004,
“We are not trying to embarrass the best players in the world, we are just trying to identify them.

[ColdNoMore]

Yes, he should have been. And then he should have apologized for losing his cool and we forgive him and move on.

Absolutely agree. :thumbup:

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I hear what people are saying about how Phil shouldn't have done what he did but I'm sure Phil knew exactly what he was doing. If you watched the Open you could see how many players missed 2 to 5 ft. puts either came up short or if they hit their 3 ft. putt & missed it rolled 10 ft. past or off the green. This wasn't just Mickelson it was most of the players. Besides I'm sure Phil wasn't going to win it or be in the top 10 finishers at 13 or 14 over at that time. I'm really surprise more people that made comments here didn't say, I wonder how many players will want to come back to this course & play. The course was terrible! I'm glad to see Phil showing his frustration in how bad this course was! Just my opinion, I'm just an amateur just like most of us that are making my opinions about Phil. Just to bad Phil didn't play better & did what he did though!

I watched the Open every day and I didn't see any missed three footers rolling ten feet by or off the green. Do you have specific examples of this? I'm sure that it could happen on a US Open golf course, but that's part of solving the problem. Hitting your ball on the green is not good enough. It has to be in a specific location on the green. Or more importantly, it can't be in certain specific locations. It's the same at The Masters. if you get your ball above the hole on some holes, you either have to hole it or you're going to have a long comeback putt.

This is major championship golf. Brooks Koepka won by shooting one over. Dustin Johnson could have won, but he putted horribly. He hit the ball on the green and in the right spot for the most part, but couldn't find the line. Had he putted just decently, (and that's 30 putts at the tour level) he would have won easily. Tommy Fleetwood shot 63 so how can anyone say that the golf course was unfair or too difficult. It's supposed to be extremely difficult.

[Shoresands]

Phil screwed up but then, no one is perfect. For those who condemn him I pose the question, all the years we endured Tigers temper tantrums, swearing, throwing clubs, kicking his bag, etc. Etc. Did you condemn his actions and if not, why?

[jerrypattyk]

The two stroke penalty was the rule. However, if there is a possibility that the tournament officials have the option to disqualify Phil then the verbiage needs to be in the rule that the officials have the discretion to use their own judgement that includes up to being disqualified. But since the rules do not have that option listed then you can't disqualify him.

[mikemalloy]

I watched the Open every day and I didn't see any missed three footers rolling ten feet by or off the green. Do you have specific examples of this? I'm sure that it could happen on a US Open golf course, but that's part of solving the problem. Hitting your ball on the green is not good enough. It has to be in a specific location on the green. Or more importantly, it can't be in certain specific locations. It's the same at The Masters. if you get your ball above the hole on some holes, you either have to hole it or you're going to have a long comeback putt.

This is major championship golf. Brooks Koepka won by shooting one over. Dustin Johnson could have won, but he putted horribly. He hit the ball on the green and in the right spot for the most part, but couldn't find the line.
Had he putted just decently, (and that's 30 putts at the
tour level) he would have won easily. Tommy Fleetwood shot 63 so how can anyone say that the golf course was unfair or too difficult. It's supposed to be extremely difficult.

The course setup by the PGA on Saturday was not a fair one. By the time the last groups of golfers got to some holes the “right spot” was either completely gone or almost minuscule. Good shots were Time and again not biting and rolling off the greens. Phill the Hall of Fame senior statesmen made a statement for his fellow competitors. The USGA got the message and had the course set up in a fair way on Sunday. Yeah, Tommy Fleetwood shot a 63 on Sunday. What did that same golfer shoot on Saturday. 78!

[Chi-Town]

The course setup by the PGA on Saturday was not a fair one. By the time the last groups of golfers got to some holes the “right spot” was either completely gone or almost minuscule. Good shots were Time and again not biting and rolling off the greens. Phill the Hall of Fame senior statesmen made a statement for his fellow competitors. The USGA got the message and had the course set up in a fair way on Sunday. Yeah, Tommy Fleetwood shot a 63 on Sunday. What did that same golfer shoot on Saturday. 78![emoji106]

Sent from my VS995 using Tapatalk

[OhioBuckeye]

You know, I can see everyone's disapproval what Phil did but if Phil wanted to tank his match, it was his money that he was losing not ours. There's no rule in golf that says he can't tank a golf match. To me it was just not very professional for a pro golfer to do something like this. Why are so many people getting down on Phil? Haven't we all started something & just finally say I quit! He could of just walked off the course but maybe this was his way of saying the greens are crap. Would that of been the right thing to do, NO! Why is it that when someone does something like this, it's news for the next 6 months. What Phil did has been done before!

[rjn5656]

I like Phil very m uch, but intentionally doing what he did should have warranted a DQ.

[ColdNoMore]

Mickelson embarrassed at U.S. Open blunder (https://www.yahoo.com/sports/mickelson-embarrassed-disappointed-actions-163749210.html)

[golfing eagles]

I like Phil very m uch, but intentionally doing what he did should have warranted a DQ.

Again, everyone who is suggesting he should have been DQ'ed needs to read the decisions on the rules of golf, rule 1-2, specifically the example given:


1-2/5.5 Player Purposely Stops or Deflects Ball; Where Next Stroke Must Be Played from
Q.A player's ball lies through the green. After playing a pitch shot up a slope, the player sees his ball start to roll back towards him. He places his club in front of the ball and stops it. The ball would have rolled only a few yards more and remained through the green. What is the ruling?
A.Since the player purposely stopped the ball, he is in breach of Rule 1-2. As the breach was not serious, the player incurs a penalty of loss of hole in match play or two strokes in stroke play. In stroke play, he must play the ball from the point where he stopped it with his club - see Note 2 to Rule 1-2.

[blueash]

As the ball would have only rolled a few yards more... not a serious violation.

Whereas Mickelson said he volleyed the ball because he was convinced it was going to continue a very significant distance, so many yards that he felt he would save strokes by taking a two stroke penalty or stated more clearly he says he calculated that it would take at least 4 more strokes to play it from where it was likely to stop. With what he did he was looking at 3 strokes had his volley gone in the hole. Hardly a good example to support your position. And since this is the best rule you can find for only assessing him a two stroke penalty and it does not apply when the ball was going to roll more than "a few yards", DQ would seem more appropriate.

I doubt Mickelson would need four strokes from somewhere just off the green but if you believe his explanation was honest that it was a strategic choice to save strokes rather than a blatant breach of the spirit of golf then I wonder why no one else had employed this brilliant strategy. I don't believe I have seen a single other PGA player defend Mickelson's action as being clever strategy. I suspect had it been Woods the tone on this website would be very different. But some people are more equal.