Johnson falters in afternoon carnage as USGA admit mistakes

What happened on Saturday at the US Open?

I think the better question would be what didn’t happen? The third round of the US Open at Shinnecock Hills simply had it all: drama, meltdowns, confusion, controversy and plenty of questionable decisions.

Dustin Johnson’s overnight four-shot lead quickly evaporated on what was a brutal day of scoring.

The American played the front-nine in 41, but he managed to steady the ship on the back-nine to post a round of 77 to hold the joint lead heading into the final round.

The playing conditions at Shinnecock gradually got worse throughout the day, with the early starters given a huge advantage. That was particularly the case with Tony Finau and Daniel Berger, with both firing 66’s to enter the final with the lead.

Brooks Koepka played magnificently in the afternoon to post a two-over-par 72 to join the lead, as did Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson who sit at 5^th and 6^th respectively.

But arguably the story of the day came from a moment of madness from Phil Mickelson. At the 13^th green, Mickelson got heavy-handed with his lengthy putt, and when he realised the ball was going to trickle off the front edge of the green, the lefty raced to his ball and took a swipe back towards the hole while the ball was clearly still moving.

Many thought that he had withdrawn from scoring and was simply carrying on as a marker with his playing partner Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston. But it then transpired that he was assessed a two-shot penalty, and signed for a 10 – a sextuple-bogey.

At the end of the day, the USGA’s Mike Davis admitted that they had got it wrong: “We thought it would be a great day. Frankly, we missed it with the wind. The speed of the greens was too much for the wind we had. It was a very tough test, but probably too tough this afternoon.”

And it would be Rickie Fowler that would get punished the most. The American signed for a 14-over-par 84.

Full US Open leaderboard

Talking point

Just what happened with Phil Mickelson? Mark Townsend tried to explain…

And should he have been disqualified? The Fourball discuss…

Zach Johnson said that the USGA had ‘lost’ the golf course:

Zach Johnson seems to have made his mind up on the ‘have they lost the course’ question @NoLayingUp @TronCarterNLU pic.twitter.com/E9VkWvPMAL

— UK Golf Guy (@ukgolfguy) June 16, 2018

Best Tweets

“Henrik we are live, please don’t swear again” ? pic.twitter.com/uutpR43JG0

— James Savage (@JamesSavageNCG) June 16, 2018

"I process thousands of rule violation variables" pic.twitter.com/u8WZ5cuCYp

— James Savage (@JamesSavageNCG) June 16, 2018

The strangest thing about the whole Mickelson debacle is seeing him break into a run..

— Mark Townsend (@MarkTownsendNCG) June 16, 2018

‘Attaboy Dustin… pic.twitter.com/kg3zh13bx8

— Mark Townsend (@MarkTownsendNCG) June 16, 2018

Phil Mickelson heading to his birthday party knowing that he’s caused utter carnage on Twitter…#USOpen pic.twitter.com/yUh0H1WrEl

— National Club Golfer (@NCGmagazine) June 16, 2018

That feeling when you’re Phil Mickelson’s partner and he’s just gone off the rails… #USOpen pic.twitter.com/lkYcdsx3c6

— National Club Golfer (@NCGmagazine) June 16, 2018

To make things very clear. That putt never put me off at all. My brain didn’t work today. Phil is a ledge. It’s a moment that happens. It’s so tough out there. He didn’t mean it. It just happened. End of story haha.

— Andrew 'Beef' Johnston (@BeefGolf) June 16, 2018

+2 today and level par back 9….to be honest I’m buzzing with that!!
Going to be absolute carnage for the leaders on that back 9, some shocking pins considering the conditions…. 13 & 15 ????? #USOpen

— Tyrrell Hatton (@TyrrellHatton) June 16, 2018

Best moments

Get your ? ready! We have a four-way tie for the lead headed into Sunday. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/94hEvTg0hw

— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 16, 2018

.@JustinRose99 sends this ball to its home and he is now only 1️⃣ stroke back #USOpen pic.twitter.com/9TGN5K6Ch6

— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 16, 2018

This guy knows a thing or two about how to stay on top of the leader board during golf's ultimate test. Take it away, @BKoepka. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/mdylvEK7zg

— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 16, 2018

He's not ranked number 1️⃣ in the world for nothing, folks. @DJohnsonPGA picks up his first birdie of the day and is now in a three-way tie for the lead. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/xEqqa01ZTQ

— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 16, 2018

.@BKoepka says don't forget about me! The defending #USOpen champion is now tied for the lead with @henrikstenson. pic.twitter.com/1wpNCzQs0v

— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 16, 2018

Henrik Stenson drains one to save par and he is now alone at the top of the leader board. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/VZ5d8YI3jV

— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 16, 2018

By the way, @henrikstenson is one stroke off the lead. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/wuynos148r

— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 16, 2018

The field needed DJ to come back to the pack today. It's happening. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/c6zP9Xqxhe

— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 16, 2018

In non-Mickelson #USOpen news, @tonyfinaugolf shot 66 today. So that's pretty cool. pic.twitter.com/fWnjIJE0v4

— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 16, 2018

We have our first mover on Moving Day: @DanielBerger59 posted a 4-under 66 before Phil did a thing that we're still trying to figure out. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/qGuOe5x5aC

— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 16, 2018