Mickelson causes a stir ahead of Augusta

Ahead of the Masters on Thursday, Phil Mickelson has claimed players need to become much better at ball marking going forward.

Lexi Thompson’s controversial four-shot penalty in the ANA Inspiration has sparked debate surrounding replacing the ball in the correct spot, after it cost the American the title last week.

Mickelson has added further fuel to the fire by suggesting some players on the PGA Tour are “lax” with their placement and that it’s something that must be cut out of the sport.

Speaking in his pre-tournament press conference, he three-times Masters champion said: “A number of guys on tour are loose with how they mark the ball and have not been called on it.

“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.

“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.”

Tagged Phil Mickelson