Phil Mickelson is not typically known as one of golf's maverick figures. But the American star once found himself in hot water with officials at the US Open after staging a remarkable meltdown.
The six-time Major winner has won dozens of titles in his car but never experienced success where it matters most at his home tournament. The US Open has eluded Mickelson throughout his 32-year professional career and on one occasion, his frustrations boiled over.
At the 2018 tournament in Shinnock Hills, Mickelson knew his chances of success were all but over after struggling to adapt to the quickness of the green. His approach shot to the green on the 13th hole - having already been on four-over-par - was wild and overhit, leading to a fiendishly difficult downhill putt.
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The American missed his pass and sent his shot hurtling past the hole. But if the shot itself didn't leave the viewers aghast, what he did shortly after would have.
Mickelson suddenly started jogging after the ball and, while he was still on the move, hit the travelling ball back towards the hole. Doing so would've prevented the ball rolling off the green and leaving him in potential jeopardy.
Broadcasters were left astonished, commenting: "Wow, that's stunning", after watching Mickelson effectively circumvent the rules that most golfers abide by.
As for the actual written rules, golfers are hit with a two-shot penalty for such a deliberate act. However, Mickelson was unmoved in his response to anyone irritated with his actions, explaining why his move was premeditated.
“I know it’s a two-shot penalty,” he said. “At that time I just didn’t feel like going back and forth, hitting the same shot. I took the penalty and moved on.
"It’s my understanding of the rules. I have had multiple times where I have wanted to do that, I just finally did. If somebody is offended by that I apologise to them, but toughen up.”
Shortly after the round had finished, the US Golf Association (USGA) organised a press conference to defend their decision to hand Mickelson a two-shot penalty under rule 14-5, rather than disqualifying him from the tournament altogether.
It would have been justified under the ruling for a 'serious breach of etiquette', but it was deemed that Mickelson's score of 10 on the unlucky 13th was punishment enough.
It later emerged that Mickelson bizarrely contacted the US Open director Mike Davis to ask why he wasn't thrown out of the tournament.
“Phil really did want to understand how the rule operates," Davis said at the time. "He said to me, he goes, ‘Mike, I don’t want to play in this championship if I should have been disqualified'.
“That’s where we clarified that, ‘Phil, you actually made a stroke at a moving ball, and so we have to apply that rule.’”
A few days after the victory, Mickelson apologised for his actions, which somewhat overclouded Brooks Koepka's victory.
“I know this should’ve come sooner but it’s taken me a few days to calm down,” Mickelson said. “My anger and frustration got the best of me last weekend. I’m embarrassed and disappointed by my actions. It was clearly not my finest moment and I’m sorry.”
Now 54, the golf icon was one of several high-profile names to join the breakaway LIV Golf movement on a stunning £157million ($200m) contract and has hinted he is considering retiring from the sport.
Incidents like these ensure he won't be forgotten in a hurry.
