There are calls for veteran golfer Phil Mickelson to be disqualified from the US Open after a brain explosion on during the third round on Sunday (NZ time).
Mickelson missed a putt on the thirteenth hole, but rather than let it run off the green, he chased it and hit it back towards the hole while it was still moving.
The American, celebrating his 48th birthday, struck it before it could roll farther from the hole, breaching rule 14.5 which prohibits a player from hitting a moving ball.
Mickelson was assessed a two-stroke penalty by organiser the USGA and given a 10 for the hole.
He signed for an 11-over-par 81 and a 17-over total.
Many former golfers took to Twitter to express their frustrations at the cheating player from hitting a moving ball.
But Mickelson tried to downplay the controversy when asked out it at the end of his round.
"If someone is offended I apologise, but toughen up," Mickelson said. "I know it's a two-shot penalty.
"At that time, I just didn't feel like going back and forth. It's my understanding of the rules. I've had multiple times where I've wanted to do that, I just finally did… It was meant to take advantage of the rules as best as you can."
Elsewhere Kiwi Ryan Fox is tied for 25th after his third round to holes to be nine-over for the tournament, while Tim Wilkinson is tied for 63rd place on 16-over.
World no 1 Dustin Johnson headed into the day with a four-shot lead, but a horror seven-over round saw the fall back to three-over, and he now sits in a four-way tie for the lead.
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