Pebble Beach, CA (AIP) - Six time runner up at the US Open Phil Mickelson had yet another tough 3rd round on Saturday at Pebble Beach when he damaged his putter on the 8th hole in a bizzare golf accident and was forced to finish the round putting with his driver.
"Phil missed a two foot putt at 8," said golf writer Curtis Langs. "One of the spectators, some handicapped kid in a wheelchair, started laughing and Phil flipped shit.
"After the missed putt he turned and hit the kid in the mouth with his putter. It was perhaps his most accurate putt during the first three rounds. Unfortunately it damaged his putter."
Under USGA rule 4.1, a damaged club can not be replaced during the round unless the club is damaged by someone other than the player or his caddie.
"Phil argued with the rules committee that not he but the handicapped child had damaged his club," said Langs. "The committee disagreed."
Mickelson was unapologetic.
"That little fuck had been trailing me all day," said Mickelson. "I could hear those fucking pneumatic brakes on every green. He was heckling me. I had to teach him a life lesson."
Putter manufacturer Odyssey went so far as to apologize in a full page ad in the New York Post.
"Our company produces only the finest equipment. Our Odyssey Apex putter should help Mr. Mickelson drain a 60 foot snaking putt and break a 10-year old's jaw without any damage. We apologize to Mr. Mickelson."
