39 Comments

1. 

   Sam McAvenue

   Jun 18, 2018 at 2:21 pm

   The USGA is comprised of a bunch of bureaucratic type a ssholes. I am proud of Phil giving them a swift kick to the nuts.

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2. 

   Austin

   Jun 18, 2018 at 10:52 am

   What he did is disrespectful to the game of golf. Abide by the rules, the course conditions are the same for everyone. There is no excuse for this and he should withdraw from the tournament. He is lucky he did not get disqualified…

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3. 

   John

   Jun 18, 2018 at 4:30 am

   First of all, let me point out that I am in no way defending Mickelson because I’m a fan. I’m far from it. His betrayal of Tom Watson in the post-Ryder Cup press conference was unforgivable in my eyes and belied his ‘nice guy’ image (which I never really bought in the first place).

   To the matter in hand… although his actions were clearly not in the spirit of the game, the penalty he incurred is the one laid down in the rules and no further action should be taken against him. The question nobody seems to be asking is what action is going to be taken against the people responsible for setting the course up in such a way that the world’s best golfers looked like weekend hackers? The PGA came out and stated that they’d got it right this year and there would be no repeat of the errors of the recent past. This was probably the biggest shambles of them all yet no one is demanding the people responsible step down. Mickelson acted out of frustration as much as anything and even if they subsequently decide to DQ him I’m sure he won’t lose any sleep over it.

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4. 

   Stixman

   Jun 17, 2018 at 12:51 pm

   I’m with the opening commenter, Gozieboy.
   I’m also looking at this from outside the USA, not bein part of the current US culture and am comfortable with my observations and the timeline of the events. Mickelson deliberately prevented the ball from going into an unfavorable position, not merely ‘hitting a moving ball’. The line taken by him and the USGA official is a ‘Post Truth’ in the best traditions of politically conditioned lying.
   DQ…no question.

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5. 

   GozieBoy

   Jun 17, 2018 at 9:04 am

   The issue most are ignoring, or don’t seem to care about, is that Phil very deliberately broke the rule. He not only violated the letter of the rule, but he violated the spirit of the game. According to 1-2, and the very decorum of the game, that to me demands DQ. Because of that, this is not subject to any further discussion.

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   • 

     Jim

     Jun 17, 2018 at 2:07 pm

     Completely agree. He should have been DQd. Bad judgement on the USGAs part.

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6. 

   Phil Underhill

   Jun 17, 2018 at 6:39 am

   He just did it to make a statement about the greens

   If he actually wanted to use the rules to his advantage, he’d have been better off letting the ball run out and then declaring it unplayable and replaying the previous putt for a one stroke penalty

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7. 

   Wiger Toods

   Jun 17, 2018 at 5:07 am

   I don’t understand AT ALL why anyone thinks he should be DQd or should quit. There’s an exact, prescribed penalty of 2 shots, and he was within his rights to do it. Anyone saying anything about a DQ and/or quitting need to look in the mirror, because they’re guilty of flat-out snobbery and are the people who are a drag on the game of golf.

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   • 

     sjn

     Jun 17, 2018 at 5:31 pm

     You’re complelety wrong and ignorant of the rules. 14-5 does not expressly permit what Mickelson did or expressly prohibit what he did. It simply is an add-on to the penalty he committed by changing the direction of the ball. he broke both rule 14-5 and 1-2 and D/Q was warranted

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8. 

   Steve

   Jun 17, 2018 at 3:17 am

   There are better ways to make a statement. How many kids were watching that over and over today? If Phil defies the rules does that make it ok? Who needs to “toughen up” doughboy?

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   • 

     Bob Tee

     Jun 17, 2018 at 8:16 am

     It’s a travesty when all golfers, both pro and amateurs cannot see and realize that the USGA is at the root of Phil’s personal decision. Phil has always epitomized professionalism and respect for the game. When the USGA displays the lack of fairness and lack of knowledge in preparing a golf course, both pros and amateurs suffer.Phil maintained his dignity and respect through this incident and not once did he show disdain for his actions. You need to chastise the USGA. They need to bear this cross, not Phil.

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     • 

       Hogan Fan

       Jun 17, 2018 at 9:48 am

       Exactly.

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     • 

       commoner

       Jun 18, 2018 at 6:10 pm

       What a great sense of humor!!

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9. 

   Peter

   Jun 16, 2018 at 10:15 pm

   If he wanted to really drive home the point of how ridiculous some pin placements were, he should’ve putted back and forth for a while and held up play. I think he should of been disqualified, most anyone else would of been.

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10. 

    Tim Armington

    Jun 16, 2018 at 9:22 pm

    Phil stays i stay!
    Phil goes i go!!
    Its a 2 shot penalty and he pegs it Sunday morning in the 2nd group out.
    All the golf purists having anxiety attacks over this need to relax.
    Judge smail must have rolled over in his grave!!!!!

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11. 

    Bruce Ferguson

    Jun 16, 2018 at 8:30 pm

    Why doesn’t the USGA just put windmills on the greens like at the putt-putt recreation centers? The greens are about that ridiculous.

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12. 

    Kyle M

    Jun 16, 2018 at 8:04 pm

    I thoroughly enjoyed what Phil did. Throw a little shade at the USGA. Who knows how many of these you have left. They’ve gone out of their way on numerous occasions to make the Open course nearly unplayable and at times unwatchable. For an organization that wants to grow the game it doesn’t make sense to make it look impossible. The Fox announcers would make you believe that Phil just murdered someone.

    Side note: Joe Buck is the worst sports broadcaster in the modern day.

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    • 

      Tom

      Jun 17, 2018 at 12:01 am

      It’s bad enough listening to him during football season!

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    • 

      Hogan Fan

      Jun 17, 2018 at 12:10 am

      100% Agreement. The USGA makes the Open qualifiers play a game no one would play. If we were to try to play like that, we couldn’t even find it in the rough, we couldn’t stop it on the green, we couldn’t 2 putt anything and our greens would be dead inside a week. Hmmmm. No other golf course is ever like this (except the week of the Open) so how is anyone supposed to get really good at playing in these conditions? I would rather the USGA tee up the Open at a 6400 yard Muni with smallish greens that run about 8 on the stimp and then see who wins. They would at least be playing the same game we play and when the shoot 58 we would know what that means. I have no idea how what I’m watching even relates to what I do at the local golf course.

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13. 

    PhilDSnuts

    Jun 16, 2018 at 6:35 pm

    Atta baby phil!!!!!! Fire up the haters!!!!!!

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    • 

      Chuck Barkley

      Jun 16, 2018 at 8:29 pm

      Of course, a clown named PhilDSnuts chimes in with the “Everybody’s a hater,” nonsense!

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14. 

    Chuck Barkley

    Jun 16, 2018 at 5:46 pm

    Krik Triplett or Payne Stewart pulled the shenanigans at the Olympic Club’s US Open in 2012. Come on Pickelson, you clown!!

    If Oh’Bama did something like that, INSTANT DQ!! Get Pickle off the track for Sunday’s round, having no regard for

    protecting the field. He’s dodger of the rules and couldn’t care less!

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    • 

      Harry Balsagna

      Jun 16, 2018 at 10:51 pm

      I doubt it was Payne Stewart, since he died 13 years prior to the 2012 US Open.

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      • 

        Chuck Barkley

        Jun 16, 2018 at 11:16 pm

        Harry, your a brilliant specimen! Thanks for your historical and mathematical save. And yes, it was

        was the 2012 US Open when Mr. Triplett protested and stopped his ball from trickling down the slippery slope.

        What would we do without the astute Balsagna?

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    • 

      Geohogan

      Jun 16, 2018 at 11:02 pm

      Your right Chuckie!

      He let Putin invade Crimea.
      Obama would deserve DQ and a fine.

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      • 

        Chuck Barkley

        Jun 17, 2018 at 12:23 am

        Geo!!! Another brilliant WRX’er!!

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15. 

    Geohogan

    Jun 16, 2018 at 5:39 pm

    David Fey was correct, Phil should be DQ’d.

    Ping eye II, insider trading…. Phil’s character is well known.

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16. 

    Billie

    Jun 16, 2018 at 5:29 pm

    Phil knew what he was doing, and I didn’t think he was mad, or out of sorts, other than he wanted to stop the madness. Took his 2 strokes and moved on. He was smiling ????

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17. 

    Brett Weir

    Jun 16, 2018 at 5:20 pm

    Phil knew he was going to get penalized the minute he took a swat at the ball when it was still moving and accepted what was coming to him as a man.

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    • 

      Geohogan

      Jun 17, 2018 at 8:01 am

      Brett, you the man.
      Speaking of ‘man’, Kim Jong-Il back in 1994, the North Korean dictator, scorched the 7,700-yard Pyongyang Golf Course in a stunning 38-under par, 34.(His first round of golf ever, BTW)
      he never resorted to hitting a moving ball ruling.

      When DT invites Chairman Kim to play at Miralargo, they should invite Chairman Phil, the “Man”.

      and David Fay can keep score.

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18. 

    Bart Broesamle

    Jun 16, 2018 at 4:11 pm

    If he followed the rules as written then whats the problem.Just chuck it in the fu@#it bucket and move on!

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19. 

    LJ

    Jun 16, 2018 at 3:48 pm

    Never seen that before? John Daly on 5 at Pinehurst if I remember correctly. Tried to run it up the hill long left of the green with a putter and hit it again on its way down the slope

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    • 

      stevet

      Jun 16, 2018 at 3:59 pm

      Yup…. and both Phil and John did this as contempt for the extreme slopes on these greens. John’s was more contemptful because the ball came back to him and would have rolled off the green it he didn’t stop it… LOL

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      • 

        geohogan

        Jun 16, 2018 at 4:45 pm

        Phil also admitted that he intentionally stopped the ball to incur two stroke penalty. The alternative could have been worse (off the green, more putts).
        In other words he admitted he broke the rule 1-2 (serious breach to gain advantage over the field) and should have been disqualified.

        A player is deemed to have committed a serious breach of Rule 1-2 if the Committee considers that the action taken in breach of this Rule has allowed him or another player to gain a significant advantage.

        Why is what he did any different from a golfer stopping his ball from rolling into a hazard.
        Simply hit the moving ball closer toward the hole and take a two stroke penalty? I dont think so.

        Isnt the first time Phil has messed with the rules. Played banned Ping clubs, taken to court over insider trading etc. His character has long been known. The USGA needs to answer for their decision today. Should have been DQ’d, “fire the SOB”.

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        • 

          Geohogan

          Jun 16, 2018 at 5:42 pm

          as our feckless leader would say.

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          • 

            Geohogan

            Jun 16, 2018 at 5:46 pm

            as our feckless leader would say. On learning Phil is a follower of our feckless leader, DT would give him a PARDON…. “treated unfairly”.

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        • 

          gunmetal

          Jun 16, 2018 at 7:43 pm

          I’m pretty sure Phil would have been completely fine with a DQ as well. What’s the harm in sending a little message (your pin placements have become unplayable) when you know you’re completely out of the tourney? I’d wager the rest of the field was happy that he did it.

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          • 

            Geohogan

            Jun 16, 2018 at 9:48 pm

            Whats the harm?
            The integrity of the game. Watch every neanderthal on the course begin doing the same as Phil.

            Some are trying to make a living. Money and ranking means something to them.

            Phil will take whatever he can get away with/ or without, paying taxes in California.

            I wager the rest of the field is sick of the self absorbed jerk.

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          • 

            Peter

            Jun 16, 2018 at 10:26 pm

            If he really wanted to send a message, he should of putted back and forth for awhile and held up play. I think he should of been disqualified for what he did. By his actions he disrespected the game of golf not the USGA. Hard to have respect for the USGA when they didn’t have the balls to disqualify him. Nobody is or should be bigger than the game.

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