SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. -- Phil Mickelson needed something low in Round 3 at the 2018 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills. Instead, he went off the rails on the par-4 13th and went the wrong way on the leaderboard while celebrating his 48th birthday Saturday.
Mickelson, who was 4 over through the first 12 holes, saw an 18-foot bogey putt trickle past the hole and on its way to falling off the green. Instead of waiting for the inevitable, Lefty ran over to the ball while it was still moving ... and hit it back at the hole.
Unsurprisingly, he missed that one, too. Mickelson then missed the next one before finally making a putt for what would have been an eight. However, because he hit a moving ball, Mickelson was assessed a two-stroke penalty. Add them all up, and Mickelson walked away with a 10 on the par 4. He would go on to finish the round and sit at 17 over for the week after posting an 11-over 81 on Saturday, matching his worst round ever at a U.S. Open.
Rule 14-5 says you may not hit a moving ball, thus the penalty Mickelson was assessed. There was actually some chatter about Mickelson being disqualified based on Rule 33-7 or Rule 1-2; however, the USGA decided to penalize him under Rule 14-5 and not Rule 1-2 because Mickelson did not deflect or stop the ball.
"Our rules committee unanimously decided that this situation is specifically and explicitly covered under Rule 14-5," explained John Bodenhamer, senior managing director of championships & governance for the USGA.
Rule 14-5: A player must not make a stroke at his ball while it is moving.
Rule 33-7: If a Committee considers that a player is guilty of a serious breach of etiquette, it may impose a penalty of disqualification under this rule.
Rule 1-2: A player must not (i) take an action with the intent to influence the movement of a ball in play or (ii) alter physical conditions with the intent of affecting the playing of a hole.
As such, Mickelson was not disqualified. Still, this is a bizarre turn as part of a stunning round for a man who will have to wait another 12 months before his next bid at winning the career grand slam.
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