Phil Mickelson has been no stranger to controversy during his career, with the six-time major champion arguably one of the most divisive figures in the current game.
Phil Mickelson has never been afraid to ruffle a few feathers during his career. Of course, the way that his move from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf was handled damaged his legacy in the eyes of many beyond repair.
But the 55-year-old does not appear to be too bothered about what many think of him. And that has certainly landed him in bother on a few occasions.
One of those incidents led to his long-time coach Butch Harmon suggesting that Mickelson should withdraw from a major championship ahead of the final round.
The US Open Phil Mickelson was encouraged to withdraw from
Shinnecock Hills proved to be a brutal test during the 2018 US Open. Seven over par was good enough to finish inside the top 10 that week in New York, with Brooks Koepka winning the title on one over par.
Mickelson ended the week in a tie for 48th on 16 over par. But perhaps he would have been wise to not tee it up in the final round at all.
Mickelson received a two-shot penalty in the third round after hitting a putt while his ball was still moving on the green. He had clearly overhit his initial putt on the 13th hole and started to jog after his ball.
It was one of the most bizarre moments elite golf has seen in a long time, particularly as it came from a player with so much experience. Mickelson was celebrating his 48th birthday that same day.
And speaking to Sky Sports ahead of the final round the next day, Butch Harmon – who parted ways with Mickelson the previous year – admitted that he felt Mickelson should have brought a premature end to his tournament.
“I asked him this morning what were you doing? Did you just lose it? He goes, ‘yeah, I kind of just lost the plot’. I said, ‘if you said you knew the rule and you could stop it’, which is what he said, ‘you could’ve taken an unplayable lie and it would have only cost you one shot. You could have dropped it right there and put it down there’. And then I think in his interview, as he continued to talk, I think he dug a deeper hole,” he said.
“I think he did ask [the USGA], ‘should I withdraw?’ I personally said to him, ‘I think you should withdraw’. I think if you would withdraw and say, ‘I was an idiot, I made a fool out of myself, I lost the plot, I don’t feel very comfortable in playing tomorrow’, I think he would have looked a lot better than he looks right now.
“Right now, because of what happened, people look at Phil Mickelson in a different way. I was talking to his manager today, I said, ‘you’re going to have to put out some fires’. He goes, ‘why do you think I’ve been here so early this morning trying to put fires out’.
“I think the whole thing was a terrible thing on a reflection on Phil Mickelson.”
How Phil Mickelson’s playing partner reacted to the controversy
It is not a surprise that so many questions were being asked. It is hard to think of another incident where a player has decided that they would be better off taking a two-shot penalty than waiting to see where their putt ends up.
Mickelson’s playing partner that day was Andrew Johnston. And Johnston once shared what he told Mickelson immediately after the incident.
“Just one of the mad moments, really. We were both obviously really struggling. It was funny because I didn’t think he hit that bad of a chip shot from behind the green in the first place. And as it released and went through, I thought wow, that is seriously quick. So to knock that past and then hit the putt going back towards back off the green, I think it’s just one of the moments where you’re not thinking about it. It just – it just happens, and he just did it,” he said.
“It wasn’t a thing of saying, I’ve had enough or this and that. It just happened.
“I said that’s one of the strangest things I’ve ever seen and then just started laughing, to be honest. I said I’m sorry, but I’ve got to laugh at this,” he added.
Whatever you think of Mickelson now at this stage of his career, there is no question at all that he has made golf so much more interesting.
He is certainly going to leave quite the legacy when he does decide to call it a day at the highest level.
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