The weird and wonderful world of Phil Mickelson

4. His penchant for a prank

The one that keeps coming up is when Mickelson told the police that Bones had hit a fan in the car park and that it was a hit and run at the US Open. What had actually happened was that the spectator had walked into the car, was unharmed and continued on their way.

“I kind of got this idea, I went to the police officers to help us out. And they went and cuffed him on the range and pulled him aside for questioning 15 minutes before our tee time. And it was entertaining for me to watch him try to explain how he needs to go caddie and that they didn’t care, this is felony hit and run. That’s, I guess, my own little sick humour.”

5. “I’m such an idiot”

Ah, the US Open. For all the five major wins – three Masters, one PGA, one Open – at the start of any season it will be a question of where’s the US Open and how will that suit Phil the Thrill?

Next year we’re at Pebble Beach, scene of four of Mickelson’s 43 PGA Tour victories and where he shot 64 to win there in 2012 alongside Tiger. This was the fifth straight occasion that he had got the better of him when being paired together.

For the record he’s played in 27 of them, more than any other major, made the cut in all bar three, had 10 top 10s and just the six second places.

The biggest stinker came at Winged Foot in 2006 when a par at 18 would have got the job done, a bogey a play-off with Geoff Ogilvy. What most of us forget was that he was going for a third straight major.

Having hit just two of 13 fairways all day he found a hospitality tent, went for the green, hit a tree, got plugged in a bunker and made six. Minutes earlier Monty had made the same number from the middle of the fairway.

“I just can’t believe I did that. I’m such an idiot.”

6. The Shinnecock implosion

Which brings us neatly to Shinnecock Hills and this year when maybe all those runners-up finishes finally hit home and, in a moment of madness, hit a moving ball, a ball that was rolling off the green on the Saturday.

The explanation, that he was simply taking advantage of the rules, was maybe even odder.

“I don’t mean it disrespectful; if you’re taking it that way, that’s not on me,” Mickelson said immediately after the round. “I’m sorry that you’re taking it that way, it’s certainly not meant that way. Sometimes in these situations, it’s just easier to take the two shots and move on.”

It took him a few days to finally apologise and, for many, it will be the strangest thing any of us have ever seen in a professional tournament.

“My anger and frustration got the best of me last weekend. I’m embarrassed and disappointed by my actions. It was clearly not my finest moment and I’m sorry.”

For the record Brooks Koepka defended his title but the championship will always be best (or worst) remembered for Mickelson’s actions.

Quick 9 continues on the next page, where Mickelson made an unexpected decision…