Big controversy - did Mickelson disrespect the game by hitting a ball that was still moving, and was going to roll off the front of the green. He did it, knowing it was a 2 stroke penalty to hit a moving ball, and was willing to take the penalty to stop it from rolling. However, here is another rule:
Rule 1-2: Influence on Movement of Ball or Altering Physical Conditions
A player must not (i) take an action with the intent to influence the movement of a ball in play or (ii) alter physical conditions with the intent of affecting the playing of a hole.
Exceptions:
1. An action expressly permitted or expressly prohibited by another Rule is subject to that other
Rule, not Rule
1-2.
2. An action taken for the sole purpose of caring for the
course is not a breach of Rule
1-2.
*Penalty for Breach of Rule
1-2:
Match play - Loss of hole; Stroke play - Two strokes.
*
In the case of a serious breach of Rule 1-2, the Committee may impose a penalty of disqualification.
Note 1:
A player is deemed to have committed a serious breach of Rule 1-2 if the Committee considers that the action taken in breach of this Rule has allowed him or another player to gain a significant advantage or has placed another player, other than his
partner, at a significant disadvantage.
Note 2: In stroke play, except where a serious breach resulting in disqualification is involved, a player in breach of Rule
1-2 in relation to the movement of his own ball must play the ball from where it was stopped, or, if the ball was deflected, from where it came to rest. If the movement of a player's ball has been intentionally influenced by a
fellow-competitor or other
outside agency, Rule
1-4 applies to the player (see Note to Rule
19-1).
He says he did it to just “get to the next hole”, but he likely thought a 2 stroke penalty is better than the strokes he might have to take if it kept rolling forever. So - should he be DQ’ed? Should we quit in shame? Sell his clubs and never touch them again?
The squaw said “Don’t they know he has psoriatic arthritis?!?!”