RBC Heritage

Harbour Town Golf Links



The Loop

Mickelson: Don't Give Them Another One

September 28, 2007

Two groups after Jack Nicklaus instructed Phil Mickelson and Woody Austin to concede Vijay Singh's four-foot putt on the 18th hole Thursday at the Presidents Cup, Ernie Els faced a four-footer for par that would have earned the International squad another half-point. Els was paired with Angel Cabrera against David Toms and Jim Furyk.

As Steve Elling describes at CBSSPorts.com, Mickelson, standing directly beside Nicklaus on the apron of the 18th green, grabbed the U.S. captain by the shoulder and said, "Don't you dare give them that putt."

Damon Green, Zach Johnson's caddie, was stationed directly behind Nicklaus and said to Mickelson, "Don't worry, I've got a hold of his shirt back here."

It was all meant in jest. When Els badly missed the par-saver and blew the ball four feet past the other side of the hole, the Americans conceded the bogey and Toms tapped in from 40 inches for a bogey and a 1-up win.