Phil Mickelson sparks controversy as four players tie for US Open lead

Phil Mickelson’s “putt-gate” shenanigans at Shinnecock created a firestorm that will haunt his legacy on a tumultuous and controversial third day at the US Open.

The veteran American – celebrating his 48th birthday – ran after a still moving putt and hit the ball back towards the hole during his third round.

It’s a no-no for kids on a crazy golf course, let alone a five-time major champion and former world No. 2 at the US Open.

But the left-hander’s admission he deliberately incurred a two-shot penalty rather than risk running up a bigger score sparked criticism that he had bent the usual etiquette and spirit of the game.

The incident will always dog the colourful and often controversial Californian – he later told critics to “toughen up” – but Mickelson’s mad-cap moment was just the start on a crazy day at Shinnecock Hills.

Two-time major winner Zach Johnson said the USGA had “lost the course” because the strengthening afternoon wind combined with slick greens and tough pin positions had made some holes extremely challenging.

Greens such as the 15th appeared to unfairly penalize good shots which landed close to the pin but ran off the putting surface.

Other players, however, were more measured and accepted the challenge for what it was. “It’s a grind. But it’s the US Open, you just have to keep plugging along. The guy who moves on the quickest usually plays the best,” Koepka told Sky Sports.

Mike Davis, chief executive of the USGA said later: “We want the US Open to be tough, but we saw some examples late in the day where well executed shots were not only not being rewarded, but in some cases penalized.”

Amid the furore, there was still a golf tournament to be won, and when Dustin Johnson missed a putt on the final green he fell back into a four-way share of the lead going into Sunday’s final round.

The world No.1 is tied at three over with defending champion Brooks Koepka, alongside Daniel Berger and Tony Finau, who both carded rounds of 66 in benign morning conditions on Long Island.

England’s 2013 champion Justin Rose was one of a number of overseas players who had to endure abuse from a raucous and highly charged New York crowd, but he held his nerve to sit one shot further back.

Twenty two players are bunched within five shots of the lead. They will be mindful that Arnold Palmer set a record US Open final-round comeback of seven shots when he won in 1960.

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READ: Feisty fans and fiery course spice up legend of Shinnecock Hills

Dustin Johnson weathered an internal storm to join a four-way tie for the lead heading into Sunday.

But Saturday at Shinnecock will always be remembered for Mickelson’s antics.

The American had a 10-foot putt for bogey on the 13th hole, but the ball slid past and he watched it gather pace down a slope. He jogged after it and tapped it back up towards the hole as it was still rolling.

Mickelson then marked his stationary ball before taking two more putts for an eight, which was later corrected to a 10 after he was assessed a two-stroke penalty.

It dropped the veteran star to 16 over for the tournament, 20 shots adrift of then leader Dustin Johnson.

The USGA invoked Rule 14-5 which states a player “must not make a stroke at his ball while it is moving.”

According to the body, it was not relevant to apply golf rule 1-2 which says a player “must not take an action with the intent to influence the movement of a ball in play.” Serious breaches of this rule could result in disqualification.

“He didn’t deflect it or stop it. He played a moving ball. He made a stroke at a moving ball, which is, again, it’s just explicitly covered under 14-5,” said USGA official John Bodenhamer.

‘Take advantage of the rules’

Phil Mickelson (right) played with England's Andrew Johnston Saturday.

Afterwards, Mickelson, who finished with an 11-over 81 to end 17 over, told Fox: “I was just going back and forth and I’d gladly take the two shots over continuing that display.

“No question it was going to go down into the same spot behind the bunker. You take the two shots and you move on.”

Asked whether he thought his actions were disrespectful, Mickelson added: “It was meant to take advantage of the rules as best as you can. I don’t mean it in any disrespect and if that’s the way people take it, I apologize.”

Mickelson is no stranger to controversy and caused significant ructions at the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles when he criticized the captaincy of Tom Watson in the US team’s losing press conference.

Mickelson’s playing partner Andrew Johnston, who also struggled, told BBC Radio 5 Live: “His body acted quicker than his brain. I think you see it in different sports people do these wacky things. He wasn’t doing it in a bad way or to try and get disqualified.

“It’s brutal out there and he was upset the way he played the previous holes. It just got to him. I’ve never seen that in tournament, only when playing with my mates.”

READ: Dustin Johnson leads as Woods, Spieth, McIlroy miss the cut

South African Retief Goosen won an electric and controversial US Open the last time it was held at Shinnecock Hills on Long Island in 2004.

Goosen and Irish caddie Colin Byrne faced a barrage of abuse from a raucous New York crowd as they battled home hero Phil Mickelson on a fast and fiery final day. "They were shouting insults to his face on the Sunday. It was quite hostile," Byrne told CNN.

Left-hander Mickelson was the reigning Masters champion and was bidding to win the US Open for a first time after two runner-up spots.

Shinnecock Hills is an uber-exclusive golf club in the blueblood heart of the Hamptons at the eastern end of New York's Long Island.

Conditions were hot and windy, making seemingly good shots end up in difficult spots or bound through greens into trouble. "It was carnage, scores were outrageous," says Byrne.

Goosen held a two-shot overnight lead but had to contend with a difficult course, a fired-up Mickelson and a jingoistic crowd on the last day. "The more they abused him the better he got. That was the worst thing they could have done," says Byrne.

"Guys were running up as he was coming off the green, shouting at him to three putt, or saying 'all yours to lose,' just nasty stuff and everything in his face," added Byrne.

Goosen's countryman and playing partner in the final group, Ernie Els, shot himself out of contention with a closing 80 but intervened at times to keep troublemakers at bay.

At the same time, US Open organizer the USGA had underestimated conditions and had to react when some holes, notably the seventh green, became so slick it was impossible for balls to stay on it.

Play was held up while greens staff watered the course.

Then world No.1 Tiger Woods, a seven-time major champion, finished tied 17th as he endured a second straight year without adding to his major tally.

Goosen overcame a host of obstacles at Shinnecock Hills to win his second US Open three years after his first.

US Open: How quiet South African Retief Goosen overcame jingoistic New York crowd

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‘Lost the course’

Shortly after Mickelson finished, Zach Johnson launched a scathing attack on the course set-up.

The 2007 Masters champion and 2015 British Open winner told Sky Sports the USGA had “lost the golf course,” meaning the course had become out of control and a lottery because of the rising wind and slippery green conditions.

“When you have a championship that comes down to sheer luck, that’s not right,” he said.

The Shinnecock Hills course has a reputation for being a brutal test of golf in US Open conditions with slick greens and pins set in tough positions, allied to a baking sun and stiff breeze.

When the tournament was last held at the Long Island venue in 2004 - when Mickelson finished second to Retief Goosen – officials had to water greens in between groups to stop them becoming too glassy.

“They lost it 14 years ago and they’ve lost it again,” Johnson added.

However, Masters champion Patrick Reed saw no issues.

“I feel like they’ve kept it on the correct side. You have to go out and play good golf,” he told Sky Sports.

Mickelson has finished runner-up a record six times in the US Open, the last major he needs to complete the set of all four of golf’s big titles.

Only five players in history have won the career grand slam – Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.

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Mickelson may one day join that group, but “putt-gate” won’t help his reputation.