I think that was the problem, at least on Saturday. The guys that tee'd off in the a.m. didn't have to battle the wind the p.m. guys did. The wind made it play like a different course. That's what I saw on the news anyway, don't watch golf.

Now they know how I feel on a Putt Putt course.

I enjoyed the carnage but they did not play the same course. Thats how 2 players tied for 45th place went to 1st place at start of day 4.

That course was too tough in my opinion. I love a close tournament, but when the winner doesn't break even par, there's a problem.

Also, Phil Mickelson's reputation is tarnished forever with that little brain fart frustration move he pulled on Saturday.

He was certainly frustrated, but I don’t think it was a brain fart. He claims it was a calculated and a strategic move. Like he knew it was a 2 stroke penalty, and thought where his putt was gonna end up was going to be worse than +2. Use the rules to your advantage IMO. If the PGA doesn’t like it change the rule.

Exactly

The only time the course was really out of hand was Saturday afternoon. Outside of that, I thought it was a fair test. Heck, Fleetwood almost broke, and did tie the all time US Open single round scoring record yesterday, so it wasn't too tough.

Yeah, that's a load of bull chit. He played it off as a "calculated move" to benefit his score, but based on his demeanor, there's no chance. Plus, golf is a gentleman's game. It wasn't "within the rules," because he broke a rule and was penalized for it. Even if it was on purpose, he knowingly broke a rule to do what? Save a stroke or two when he was not even close to being in contention? It's completely wrong and this is going to haunt him for a long time.

What Phil did is no different than a Cornerback intentionally tackling a WR on a blown coverage route before he ever catches the ball.....if your choices are taking the Pass Interference call or giving up a TD, you take the PI.

same thing with what Phil did.

Pretty much what Gomer said. Mickelson played within the rules to his benefit, but because of golf's "gentleman's game" legacy it flew in the face of everyone. Not to mention it came in the national championship.

I think he did it mostly as a big FU to the USGA for the course debacle Saturday and then played the "I followed the rules" excuse. If it had been someone down T-43 on the list and not a big name they'd probably have DQ'ed him.

Y'all remember when Tiger used the rules to have a couple of guys from the gallery move a rock and called it a movable obstruction? Within the rules but not in the spirit of the rules, which is where Phil went wrong the other day.

I don't remember that, but then I was pretty young when he first started playing so I may have just missed it.............that said, if it was small enough that "a couple of guys from the gallery" were able to move it, then what's the problem?

I remember it. The rock was pretty damned big.

Found it................haha, it isn't exactly small. Either way, "rules is rules"...

FWIW, that is desert granite, the most common rock found in the AZ desert. It is a very heavy rock. That one in the picture would take a couple of serious guys to roll around.

Watch the video. Took about 8-10 of them to roll it,

Do what? Haunt him? That’s a little extreme. I’m guessing he don’t lose much sleep. I thought it was a nice middle finger to the USGA setup putting pins on the side of a slope while the greens had turned into concrete - even though it was likely just out of frustration. It may actually end up being something talked about enough to cause some change. They want the dang greens rolling so fast on some of these setups, that courses have to replace the greens on some holes after the tour rolls through.

Well, I see it two ways. One is that he just went "weekend golfer" who was having a terrible round, was ready for the clubhouse bar, and said screw it and hit it again. I thought it was kinda funny. The other side is the golfing purist who recoiled in absolute horror that someone, especially Phil, would commit such a blatant rule violation and not immediately DQ himself. I think what really rubbed people the wrong way was the post round interview when he just brushed it off with a grin and didn't seem to be too concerned with it. That's what made the USGA so mad. Had he bowed down and came on bended knee with KPMG hat in hand, admitted his sin, and asked for forgiveness and mercy before them, the backlash would probably been less.

Dr. B

He knew exactly what he was doing. It was a big FU to the USGA, and if had been some Joe Schmedlap in the field or in any other USGA event they'd have dragged the guy to the pit of misery to beat him with 9-irons. Phil got away with it because he's Phil. He knew they wouldn't do anything or if they DQed him he wouldn't care.