THE CHALLENGING LOW AND HIGH GROUND AT THE U. S. OPEN

THE CHALLENGING LOW AND HIGH GROUND AT THE U.  S. OPEN
By Andy Weddington
Monday, 18 June 2018

Golf is a game of respect and sportsmanship; we have to respect its traditions and its rules. Jack Nicklaus

Thursday morning past through Sunday evening I watched the U. S. Open.

I watched because the men considered the best in the game struggled - tested; by club and by character.  

For the demanding Shinnecock Hills course and weather, some big names (e.g., Tiger Woods, Jordon Spieth, et al.) did not make the cut. 

So goes golf. Like life, it's not a fair game. By design it can't be - conditions change with time and course traffic - there's always present the element of luck. 

One big name who did make the cut, Phil Mickelson, celebrated his birthday on Saturday.

But the course's low and high ground challenged the birthday boy's clubs.  

And his character. 

On the 13th green his putter failed. 

With ball rolling to disaster he abruptly hustled and knocked it back in the direction of the hole. 

Five decades of watching golf and I've never seen anything like it.

About the only more egregious breach of the rules that comes to mind would be interrupting the roll of another player's ball heading for the hole.

Mr. Mickelson clearly broke with an understood courtesy and one qualified as a rule of the game - in letter and more so in spirit.

The penalty disqualification. 

A gentleman would have gracefully withdrawn. 

He played on.

Now the moral high ground lost.  

The rules committee hustled, too.

And allowed Mr. Mickelson to play (citing a lesser included breach).

Again the moral high ground lost.

Perhaps after a night of reflection either Mr. Mickelson or the rules committee would correct the wrong.

Neither did so. 

So I wondered ...

What other competitors (and caddies) thought?

What players who did not compete thought?

What the greater golfing world thought?

What golf analysts and critics thought?

What impressionable youth aspiring to be pros thought?

In these days and times was Mr. Mickelson above the rules because he's a famous "lefty"?

So to drive home the point ...

Mr. Mickelson and the rules committee bogeyed - integrity and courage failed to conquer the moral high ground. 

Thus, a tournament low point. Rough. With traditions and rules trampled. 

But it's never too late to clean up a mess - even on a golf course; unlucky 13 on your birthday or not.

After all, it's a game, a gentleman's game - though only respect and sportsmanship make it so.