Phil Mickelson Says Most Tour Pros Are 'Loose' With Ball Marking

The three-time Masters winner Phil Mickelson came out in support of Lexi Thompson, saying all pros are 'loose' with their ball marking

Phil Mickelson Says Most Tour Pros Are 'Loose' With Ball Marking
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The three-time Masters winner Phil Mickelson came out in support of Lexi Thompson, saying all pros are 'loose' with their ball marking

Phil Mickelson Says Most Tour Pros Are 'Loose' With Ball Marking

Three-time US Masters champion Phil Mickelson has come out in support of Lexi Thompson, saying that most tour pros are 'loose' with their ball marking.

Thompson was leading the ANA Inspiration, the women's first major of the season, last week with just six holes to play before being told she was receiving a four stroke penalty for not placing her ball exactly where she marked it on the 17th green on the previous day.

It's after a TV viewer emailed the LPGA.

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Expand What next for Lexi Thompson?

What now for lexi thompson?

What next for Lexi Thompson?

What now for Lexi Thompson? Was it intentional?…

Expand Tearful Lexi Thompson Signs Autographs And Takes Pictures With Fans

What now for lexi thompson?

Tearful Lexi Thompson Signs Autographs And Takes Pictures With Fans

The American was penalised four strokes to lose…

Expand How Social Media Reacted To Lexi Thompson’s Four Stroke Penalty

What now for lexi thompson?

How Social Media Reacted To Lexi Thompson’s Four Stroke Penalty

After Lexi Thompson was penalised four strokes at…

Mickelson thinks the decision should be reversed.

Lexi Thompson rules penalty

Lexi Thompson eventually lost in a playoff

"To have a tournament be decided like that, with just a little bit of loose marking, I think it should be reversed.

"I think that she should be given the trophy.

"A number of guys on tour are loose with how they mark the ball and have not been called on it.

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"They will move the ball two, three inches in front of their mark, and this is an intentional way to get it out of any type of impression and so forth. That kind of stuff needs to stop.

The Masters Green Jacket

Tiger Woods presents Phil Mickelson with his Green Jacket in 2006

"I feel like we've all kind of been a little lax at times in the markings of our golf ball and I hate to see it cost somebody a major championship because of that."

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"I know Lexi and the one thing she is not is a cheat," he said. "What's happened with all these rules controversies does not put out a good image for us and the game of golf.

"Tiger said it best when he said people at home don't need to be wearing stripes and calling in."

Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!


Elliott is currently playing:


Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV