SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. - Saying that he meant no disrespect to the game or the tournament, Phil Mickelson defended his decision to hit a moving ball that was rolling off the green during the third round of the U.S. Open, saying that he'd "still be out there,'' if he had not violated the rules.
Mickelson, who celebrated his 48th birthday at Shinnecock Hills, saw his bogey putt on the 13th hole slide low of the hole and begin to trickle away to the point that he ran after it and hit it again before it stopped, stroking the ball past the hole.