The fulminations over Phil Mickelson swatting a rolling golf ball at the U.S. Open could shatter brick and concrete, but the best rip job of Lefty probably belongs to a British golf writer who called him a "chump" and "silly ass" during Fox Sports' excellent final round coverage from Shinnecock Hills on Sunday.
Speaking to Fox reporter Holly Sonders, golf writer John Hopkins of the Global Golf Post let Mickelson have it over his decision to hit a rolling golf ball on the 13th green Saturday. That resulted in a two-shot penalty for Mickelson — and a "Tin Cup"-like ten on the hole.
Maybe it was Hopkins' clipped British accent. Or the unhurried, professorial way he skewered Mickelson. But Hopkins' brutally honest comments made even Sonders look at the camera in surprise.
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"I think he’s a chump. I think he made a complete mistake. In Britain we would call him an ass. A silly ass," said Hopkins during Fox's live Sunday coverage. "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.“
Hopkins' comments about Mickelson underline the stark difference in opinions about Mickelson's actions. The white shoe, country club golf establishment reacted with horror to the American superstar cavalierly ignoring the hallowed rules of golf. The golf press mostly agreed, clutching their pearls and heading for the fainting couch.
Many TV viewers and everyday golf fans, on the other hand, could care less. They've stopped rolling putts, or knocked balls off the green, during their Sunday foursome at the public golf course. They didn't get mad at Mickelson -- because they've done the same thing themselves.
Of course, some American golf fans took offense to a snooty British golf writer insulting the popular Mickelson.
Take it away angry Twitter:
For his part, Mickelson said he didn't mean disrespect.
“I know it’s a two-shot penalty. At that time, I just didn’t feel like going back and forth and hitting the shot over," explained Mickelson. "I took the two-shot penalty and moved on. It’s my understanding of the rules. I’ve had multiple times when I’ve wanted to do that. I just finally did.”