A Famous British Reporter Once Spoke Bold Words About LIV Golf Rebel Phil Mickelson: ‘In Britain We Would Call Him An A**’

Phil Mickelson has won all but one major championship in his career. Having won the Masters (thrice), PGA Championship (twice) and The Open Championship (once), the US Open continues to elude him. He has finished in second place a record six times and has had the worst chokes in golf’s recent history. The double-bogey at the 18th hole at the 2006 US Open, where he needed only par in the final round to win the title, was one of many decisions that left him winless at the US Open.

His last finish as runner-up in the US Open came back in 2013. Since then, his efforts have been well documented, and his antics at the 2018 US Open were the most talked about within the whole tournament. It was in this competition that Mickelson did the most childish act ever – hit a moving ball on the green. He was widely ridiculed for the act, but none was harsher yet comical than British golf writer John Hopkins’s rant at FOX News.

“I think he’s a chump. I think he made a complete mistake,” Hopkins said. “In Britain we would call him an a**.  A silly a**.”

“What worries me more is that he shows little contrition now. There’s not much, um, chastening. He doesn’t look to me this morning as though he realizes quite what has happened and how’s he’s offended so many people. And if my judgment is rather severe, then, I’m British and I make no apologies for it.”, he added.

Phil Mickelson shot 10 on a 4-par hole

Hopkins’s comments made an array of fans jump on the bandwagon. But where exactly did Mickelson go wrong? Well, have a look yourself.

Four over-par already, Mickelson faced an 18-feet downhill slope for a bogey. His shot missed the hole and kept going. Fearing it might land in the bunker, Mickelson responded quickly, running behind the ball and stroking it before the ball could rest.

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That didn’t go well, either, as the ball avoided the hole again. Finally, his 8th shot holed out and freed Mickelson off the course.

Did Mickelson hit a moving ball on purpose?

Considering the years ‘lefty’ has endured in courses around the world, everybody had the same question – Did he do it on purpose? Well, it turns out he did.

“It was meant to take advantage of the rules as best as you can. In that situation, I was just going back and forth. I’d gladly take the two shots over continuing that display,” he told FOX after his round ended.

Reactions from other golfers

The event became a talking point across the golfing community. Other golfers shared their opinion too.
“Phil knows the rules,” said former world no.1 Jordan Spieth. “If there was a chance it was going to go back behind the bunker and he’s got to chip back or he was going to play off the green anyway … so he was potentially saving himself a shot. So if that was the intent, then what’s the harm in that? He’s playing for the best score he can.”

Rory McIlroy looked at it from a different angle. “Honestly, I laughed [when I heard about it],” McIlroy told reporters. “I felt it was a massive overreaction to it. Phil knew what he was doing. Look, as a player who has been in that headspace at that tournament, I can see it happening to people.”

The USGA booked Mickelson under Rule 14-5, which meant he was penalized with a two-stroke penalty for hitting a moving ball. He finished tied in 48th position when the 2018 US Open eventually came to a close.

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