U.S. Open 2018: Why Phil Mickelson’s crazy penalty had gamblers cashing in

Ross KinnairdSOUTHAMPTON, NY – JUNE 16: Phil Mickelson of the United States smiles on the third green during the third round of the 2018 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club.SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — Leave it to Phil Mickelson, a man who has never been shy about his penchant for placing the odd wager or three, to single-handedly determine the outcome of a U.S. Open prop bet.
By now, you've probably seen Mickelson's meltdown on Shinnecock Hills' 13th hole on Saturday, and heard his explanation that hitting a moving golf ball is a strategy he's thought about utilizing before (Classic Phil). But you probably didn't realize that the disastrous hole caused a lot of money to change hands in Vegas.
You see, the over/under for highest score by a player on a single hole at this week's U.S. Open was set at 9.5. And despite the carnage seen up to that point in the tournament, no one — not even Scott Gregory, who shot 92 on Thursday — had carded worse than a 9 on any ..

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Anna Nordqvist, Lee-Anne Pace share LPGA Tour lead

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) Anna Nordqvist and Lee-Anne Pace each shot 8-under 64 on Saturday to share the third-round lead in the Meijer LPGA Classic.

Nordqvist and Pace each birdied four of the first five holes and two of the last three – each making 20-footers on the par-4 18th – in their bogey-free rounds. They were at 18-under 198 at Blythefield Country Club.

Nordqvist, from Sweden, has eight LPGA Tour victories, winning the Founders Cup and The Evian Championship last year.

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”It just feels good playing good golf,” the 31-year-old Swede said. ”I feel like I need to trust myself.”

She birdied the par-3 fourth hole with the tee moved back behind the river.

”It was playing 218 today and I had a 3-wood,” Nordqvist said. ”I don’t get a lot of roll on my 3-wood, so I pitched in front of the green and it just rolled up perfect. So, it’s a tough hole, but I like the way LPGA challenges us.”

The 37-year-old Pace, from South Africa, won the 2014 Blue Bay LPGA ..

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Rules of Golf No. 14-5: Player Moving Ball

Rule 14: Striking the Ball

5. Playing Moving Ball

A player must not make a stroke at his ball while it is moving.

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Exceptions:

– Ball falling off tee (Rule 11-3)

– Striking the ball more than once (Rule 14-4)

– Ball moving in water (Rule 14-6)

When the ball begins to move only after the player has begun the stroke or the backward movement of his club for the stroke, he incurs no penalty under this Rule for playing a moving ball, but he is not exempt from any penalty under Rule 18-2 (Ball at rest moved by player).

Penalty for Breach of Rule 14-5:

Match play – Loss of hole; Stroke play – Two strokes.

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The Latest: Johnson’s double bogey cuts into US Open lead

SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. (AP) The Latest on the US Open (all times local):

4:20 p.m.

Phil Mickelson says he didn’t mean any disrespect when he hit a moving ball on the 13th green at the U.S. Open.

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The five-time major champion jogged after the ball to keep it from rolling away from the hole and hit it back to where he had been standing.

That earned him a two-stroke penalty. Mickelson said he thought it would have taken him more than two strokes if he had let the ball keep rolling.

He said he’s thought about doing it before, but this was the first time it made sense and that he didn’t intend to make a mockery of the game.

”It’s certainly not meant that way,” he said. ”It’s meant to take advantage of the rules as best you can. In that situation, I would gladly take the two shots.”

Mickelson took a 10 on the hole with the penalty and finished the day with an 81 that left him at 17 over for the tournament.

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4:15 p.m.

Dustin Johnson is down to a one-stroke le..

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Frustrated Mickelson swats moving ball with putter at Open

SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. (AP) Whether he ever wins a U.S. Open – and that prospect is increasingly bleak at age 48 – Phil Mickelson will be remembered for what happened on the 13th green at Shinnecock Hills on Saturday.

Call it the Mickelson Meltdown.

His bogey putt from above the hole ran by the cup and was headed down a slope when he ran over and swatted it back toward the hole as the ball was still moving. Mickelson’s shocking display in the third round earned him a 2-stroke penalty and led to a 10 on the hole, an 81 overall. He went from shooting a 69 to making the cut to falling apart so badly that playing partner Andrew Johnston called it ”a moment of madness.”

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”I’ve had multiple times where I’ve wanted to do that,” Mickelson said, explaining he preferred the 2-stroke penalty to having to play the ball from off the green. ”I just finally did.”

Saturday was Mickelson’s 48th birthday, and there were good vibes everywhere early in his round. He was serenade..

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