Phil Mickelson stuns commentators with brain snap

The third round of any of golf’s majors is known as moving day, but former world number two Phil Mickelson may have that a little too literally in the US PGA.

Mickelson, who turns 48 today, missed a bogey putt on the 13^th before running the ball and hitting it again as it continued to roll away from the hole.

It’s a position most weekend amateurs can sympathise with, but left everyone watching stunned.

“That's… that’s stunning,” commentator Joe Buck said.

“He just snapped.”

Mickelson was slapped with a two-stroke penalty and finished with 10 strokes on the whole, six over par.

The five-time major winner finished his round 11-over for the day in 65^th position.  

“At that time I didn’t feel like going back-and-forth and hitting the same shot over,” Mickelson said after his round, admitting he knew he’d be penalised.

“It’s meant to take advantage of the rules the best you can.

“I gladly take the two shots over continuing that display.

“I don’t mean it in any disrespect, and if that’s the way people took it I apologise to them.”

Related: For the latest on the US Masters, head to Wide World of Sports.

Mickelson is one of the professional tour’s most loved golfers, the US Golf Association (USGA) will now weigh up if his actions warrant disqualification from the tournament.

“That’s basically his way of saying 'that’s it',” former US Golf Association executive David Fay said.