Posted on 06/16/2018 5:25:51 PM PDT by Hebrews 11:6
I'm sorry.
Those are the first two words Phil Mickelson should say publicly Sunday morning after a fitful night of sleep.
I withdraw.
Those are the next words Mickelson should say on his way out of the U.S. Open and into a better and brighter tomorrow.
Mickelson made a mockery of his sport's national championship on his 48th birthday, and he should now do the honorable thing and remove himself from the tournament.
He hit his moving ball out of frustration on the 13th green at Shinnecock Hills, and then told a counterfeit tale about his intent. Mickelson said he took a strategic whack at his rolling putt as it headed downhill to accept the two-stroke penalty rather than risk playing the ball conventionally and taking a score more damaging than the 10 he posted on the par 4.
Phil screwed up and apologized rather quickly. It is now getting overblown coverage.
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Not to paraphrase the great Cub Ernie Banks, but:
Let's play 36.
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Agree completely. The course is a dump......... looks like they are shot on groundskeepers.
When a shot is excellently made and not only not rewarded but actually punished .......... we have a crappy, worthless Long Island travesty.
Never again ANY IMPORTANT TOURNAMENT at this CHARACTERLESS DUMP.
Really? Lemme see if I've got this right.
One of golf's most respected players, a ~26 year professional, decides to "rampantly cheat" in front of a full gallery, other players, officials, and several TV cameras.
Granted, it wasn't one of his better decisions on a golf course for sure. But I dunno about "rampant cheating".
Izzit "rampant cheating" when a quarterback spikes the ball? Similar principle, I believe. d:^)
It was more like 3 and a half a strokes difference ...... but even that is a lot!
Wasn't that a helluva note? Hehehe. Nice game plan!
Hang out at the 19th, move on up the leaderboard! d:^D
Tin Cup
In the final TV segment, Joe Buck was pushing the Rules Chairman for a DQ while whining “what about the fans?”
I was expecting Buck to ask, “What about the children?”
Could it be Phil is a conservative and leftist Buck wanted blood (DQ) while ignoring the rules that governed the penalty?
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Yeh, I would have let it roll about 50 feet further off the green .... then swatted it as it was moving.
LOL
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Yep ..... everything but the windmill.
Hang out at the 19th, move on up the leaderboard! d:^D"
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LOL.... yeh, those guys were hanging out chomping down pizza for over three hours ......... then voila ..... they're on top.
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You might want to watch some of the Pittsburgh Pirate batters.
;-)
Exceptions: 1. An action expressly permitted or expressly prohibited by another Rule is subject to that other Rule, not Rule 1-2.
Also bear in mind that if no other rule could be equitably applied, rule 33-7 allows the tournament committee (in this case) to waive, modify or impose the penalty of DQ as it sees fit. 33-7 does not allow the number of penalty strokes imposed by the rule, but there was no violation of the rules in imposing a 2 stroke penalty and not DQ'ing him.
Exceptions 1. An action expressly permitted or expressly prohibited by another Rule is subject to that other Rule, not Rule 1-2;
They had the right to DQ him under 33-7, but not 1-2.
33-7. Disqualification Penalty; Committee Discretion A penalty of disqualification may in exceptional individual cases be waived, modified or imposed if the Committee considers such action warranted. Any penalty less than disqualification must not be waived or modified. 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.
You mean to tell me you don't remember John Daly in the 1999 U.S. Open at Pinehurst doing this exact same thing and getting the exact same penalty? I would argue that Phil was much more professional in his actions yesterday than Mr. Daly was in 1999.
You seem to be somewhat misinformed about both the rules and the history of golf. Since I'm pretty sure you are neither a PGA pro or a USGA Rules Official, it might serve you well to remember that your opinion of what should happen (which you are fully entitled to) is just that: opinion.
SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — The golf course was on the edge for the third round of the 118th U.S. Open, and so were the players. Phil Mickelson lost his mind (though he refused to plead temporary insanity) and Dustin Johnson lost his lead, along with a good chunk of his invincible aura. At the end of a wild day at Shinnecock Hills, Johnson found himself in a four-way tie atop the leaderboard with Daniel Berger, Tony Finau and Brooks Koepka. Eighteen players were within six strokes and everyone was feeling edgy.
Pat Perez putted a ball off the 15th green – a handful of other players did as well thanks to a fiendish pin position - and when asked about the course conditions afterward he said, "I don't want to get fined so I'm not going to comment on it. But let's just say it's the USGA." He could summon no more damning description.
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• In a widely circulated interview with Sky Sports, Zach Johnson said:
"We're not on the edge. I thought we could be on the edge, but we've surpassed it. It's pretty much shot. … Unfortunately, they've lost the golf course."
Have you heard of the LPGA?
Prior to extensive back surgery in October, 2016, I was a 7-hdcp (from the white tees), 9th place finish in a tournament with over 3400 players, 2nd place Summer Solstice tournament (54 holes in one day) and Maryland Military Women's Long Drive top 5 finisher 3 years in a row. Once my rehab is complete, feel free to toodle on over to North Carolina, and I'll change your mind on that opinion. I fully support Augusta (or any other private club) excluding female players. Likewise, I would support a ladies only private club. In fact, any private club has the right to restrict its membership to whatever demographic it likes.
That said, golf is not a "men's only" sport by a long shot.
I saw it, and I agree.
Phil’s answer was an excuse, and so obviously an excuse it presents a bad attitude to younger folk looking to get into professional golf - you can try to cheat and get away with the attempt.
I think the U.S. Open and Shinnecock officials are going to take some flak for a course that was not merely difficult but maybe also just bad in places. Some hole placements are going to be challenged after the fact as wrong, and looking for an admission from the U.S. Open officials on that point.
Yes there is a rule that assesses extra points for hitting a moving ball.
But the context of any error -
how, in what manner it takes place (was it an unintentional mistake, a casual error, or did the player chase after a moving ball and strike it - as Phil did),
allows the judges to consider another rule, that says if the manner of an error warrants, the player can be removed from the tournament.
Phil should have (a) been TOLD to apolgize and then (b) removed from the tournament.
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