Phil Mickelson chases down, kicks drone camera at 2015 US Open (VIDEO)

As if the rough terrain at Chambers Bay wasn't enough, Fox Sports has found some new ways to annoy golfers during the 2015 U.S. Open by implementing drones into their coverage. And not just the flying kind. They’ve invaded the course with rolling ground drones, too.

And Phil Mickelson took action against the creeping intruders.

On Friday, Mickelson — who's been hovering at the bottom of the leaderboard himself — decided to have some fun with a ground camera. Walking down the fairway, he chased after one and gave it a friendly kick.

Lefty's out here kicking drones. pic.twitter.com/BYeS6qX0t8

— Robby Kalland (@RKalland) June 20, 2015

We know the Chambers Bay course is torturous — but bringing in a Mars rover?

Check out @FOXSports rolling drone on the 9th green at #ChambersBay #USOpen Also seeing flying drones as well today. pic.twitter.com/rY7tUUGsAV

— Play Chambers Bay (@playchambersbay) June 16, 2015

Rory McIlroy saves trophy during PGA Championship presentation (VIDEO)

Just when you thought Sunday's PGA Championship couldn't add any more drama, winner Rory McIlroy goes and makes a cup-saving catch after a butterfingered presenter almost dropped the giant Wanamaker Trophy.

McIlroy held on to win his second major in a row after a foursome including the Irish golfer, Phil Mickelson, Rickie Fowler and Bernd Wiesberger went putt-to-putt just as the sun was setting.

Lucky there was still enough light for McIlroy to make the one-handed grab.

Feds investigating Phil Mickelson for insider trading: Report

This is a hazard Phil Mickelson never encountered on the golf course — and one that the squeaky-clean golfer might find more difficult to navigate than any ordinary sand trap.

The Masters champion and Carl Icahn — the wealthiest man on Wall Street — are being probed by a joint FBI and Securities and Exchange  Commission investigation over claims of insider trading involving them and legendary Las Vegas gambler William Walters, according to reports in The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal.

The FBI is looking into whether Mickelson and Walters may have traded illegally on private information provided by Icahn about his investments in public corporations.

The investigation centers on what were described as suspicious trades in Clorox Co. options days before Icahn announced a bid to acquire the company in 2011.

The joint FBI and SEC inquiry is the latest case to emerge from a multi-year crackdown on insider trading by U.S. authorities.

A lawyer for Mickelson denied to the Journal that the golfer was involved.

"Phil is not the target of any investigation. Period," said the lawyer, Glenn Cohen.

Walters, who plays golf with Mickelson, is a well-known sports gambler who met Icahn through a mutual acquaintance and struck up a friendship, according to sources who have been briefed on the investigation claimed that Icahn had accumulated a 9.1 percent stake in Clorox in February 2011. 

In July, the 78-year-old Icahn — whose estimated wealth is over $23 billion — made an offer for the company that valued it at above $10 billion and sent its stock soaring. He  would not have been breaking any laws if he revealed details of his takeover bid, unless it was in breach of confidentiality with his investors. 

Mickelson and Walters made their Clorox trades as Icahn was mounting his takeover bid for the company, which later failed.

It is not known if Mickelson, who has won five major golfing championships, knows Icahn. 

Investigators were also looking into trades that Mickelson and Walters made related to Dean Foods Co, the unidentified sources claimed. 

Icahn, Mickelson and Walters were not immediately available for comment. Spokesmen for the FBI and SEC declined to comment.

None of the men have been accused of wrongdoing in the investigation, which started two years ago.

Masters ratings take big dip from 2013: Report

Not even the possibility of seeing 20-year-old Jordan Spieth make golf history at the 2014 Masters could lure a big television audience with Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson not in the field.

Without Woods or Mickelson or any late-round drama, the ratings for the Masters last weekend predictably took a dive from the year before.

The final round on Sunday — when Bubba Watson beat Spieth and Jonas Blixt by three shots to win his second career green jacket in three years — got a 7.8 rating, down from the 10.2 that the Masters got on Sunday in 2013.

That's 24 percent down from last year’s Masters finale — when Adam Scott beat Angel Cabrera in a high-drama playoff.

This past Sunday had plenty of potential for a big finish on the front nine, but it was the back nine that dragged on as Watson improved his lead while the youngster Spieth made some bogeys and found water on the par-3 12th.

The ratings for the third round were also down from 2013, landing a 4.4 compared to the 6.3 that the third round received a season ago.

It's easy to say the absence of Tiger or the missed cut by Phil kept the casual viewer away, but it boils down to the fact that the final couple hours of Sunday's round was about as exciting as a trip to a Waffle House.

Phil Mickelson practices his backwards flop shot at Muirfield (VIDEO)

Phil Mickelson, fresh off his victory at the Scottish Open, practiced Monday at Muirfield — site of the British Open Championship.

Mickelson told USA TODAY Sports his goal was to “find a way to make easy pars,” which may or may not include a backwards flop shot once the Open begins on Thursday.

Here, Lefty gives it his best shot to rousing applause.

Keegan Bradley compares Ryder Cup atmosphere to Patriots game

If anyone has set the tone for the Ryder Cup this year it's Keegan Bradley.  The St. John's alum might be the perfect person to lead the U.S. over Europe in the 39th Ryder Cup and he got things started yesterday.

The rookie was paired with veteran Phil Mickelson and together the two lefties looked like a couple of kids on the last day at school.

Bradley's exuberance and clutch play sparked the U.S. to a 5-3 lead after the first two sessions — going 2-0 with Mickelson in taking down two of Europe's best teams.

The 2011 PGA Rookie of the Year made big shot after big shot in between high-fives and chest bumps with his idol Mickelson.

Bradley called it the best day of his life and afterwards the Vermont-raised golfer said the Medinah Country Club atmosphere was like seeing his favorite football team at Gillette Stadium.

"[We were] running down the fairway, arms around each other, we were screaming," said Bradley.  "It was like a Patriots game out there."

The 46-year old Mickelson echoed the sentiment and said he "felt young again playing with Bradley."

Bradley was superb on Friday.  He made clutch shots and didn't wilt under the boisterous Chicago-area crowd while on the greens.  His long putt on the 15th hole, all but clinched the win.

"There's a simple reason why Keegan is perfect for the Ryder Cup," said Mickelson, who went 2-0 on the same day for the first time in nine Ryder Cup appearances.  "The more pressure the situation, the better he plays, the better he sees the shot, the better the result.  There's no higher pressure situation than the Ryder Cup."

Bradley's energy might have rejuvenated his partner's game and it sounds like there's plenty more lightning left inside the former Red Storm star.

While the two players were enjoying a rousing ovation from the fans after yesterday's final victory, Bradley exclaimed, " Oh baby, I wish I could go 36 more."

Lee Westwood lands ball inside woman's shirt

Lee Westwood's errant tee shot on the 13th hole yesterday at the Match Play Championship somehow ended up inside the polo shirt of a woman standing in the gallery.

The gray-haired woman inexplicably apologized to Westwood for his shank before he got to drop the ball after the lady shook the little hunchback out from behind on her own.

I'm sure there would have been a lot more ball-removing volunteers if that Titlelist had landed inside the blouse of let's say... a Kate Upton.

Last week, a ball hit by Phil Mickelson at the Northern Trust Open landed inside the shorts of a male spectator.  Mickelson gave the jubilant man a signed glove but dropped a different ball.

Yesterday's shot was wasn't nearly as nasty.

Man gets hit in groin by Phil Mickelson ball and gets signed glove

An errant tee shot by Phil Mickelson at the Northern Trust Open soared into the gallery and bounced up the shorts of one of the spectators.

After Mickelson's ball played clacker on the man's pair of Titleists, the golfer signed one of his gloves and handed it to the giddy soprano.

I don't what's more disturbing about this video clip— the injured man jumping around like a teenage Justin Bieber fan or the home boy kneeling down and pointing at the camera like some country club gangsta.

The guy looks street— with the cap pulled down over his forehead and the soul-patch on his chin— until you see the argyle sweater vest. Yo! Represent homes.

The Bloods, the Crips and the Yups.

Mickelson was tied for the lead when he got the banana-ball on the 15th hole.

He was overheard telling the officials, after they told him to take the ball and make a drop, "I ain't touching that damn thing."

It's lights out for Clint Eastwood during Pebble Beach broadcast

While Phil Mickelson was playing lights out at the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am yesterday, there was a scary moment for Clint Eastwood in the CBS broadcast booth when one of the studio lights played out.

Announcers Jim Nance and Nick Faldo were joined int the booth by the legendary tough guy actor when the overhead light popped like a gun shot and the studio darkened.

In true Harry Callahan form, Eastwood didn't even flinch while Nance and Faldo ducked and joked afterwards.

Insert your favorite Dirty Harry movie quote here.

"Ouch," said Faldo as Eastwood sat still and smiled.

"It's like an old western here with Clint Eastwood," ad-libbed Nance.

Eastwood has been making a lot of news lately.

He is an Academy Award nominee for his film "J. Edgar" and  took a lot of heat this past week for his controversial Chrysler ad during the Super Bowl.  Now the light malfunction on national TV.

Call it the Good, the Bad and the Ugly.  See, I couldn't help it.

Tiger Loses...Wait...Phil Wins!

By Tony Mangia

A memorable victory by Phil Mickelson ended a wild and crazy week of golf at The Masters on Sunday. Mickelson won his third Green Jacket at Augusta, amidst the circus that is Tiger Woods, and by not pulling a "Phil"--another word for playing haphazardly-- as he has on many other occasions. One potential Phil was averted Sunday, after "Lefty"--the good Phil--shot through the trees on the par five 13th hole. Instead of playing it safe by putting it on the fare way, Phil lifted the ball off of the leaves and through the slightest opening of pine trees and plunked in on the green. This was the dagger that killed any chance of Tiger pulling up from behind and held off a charging Anthony Kim.

The "Tiger Woods Welcome Back Tour" or, as it is formally known, The Masters, began with his 34 minute press conference--or 'you'll never get me to say anything.' Part of the festivities included one of his mistresses, Jocelyn James, making a guest appearance at the nearby Pink Pony Strip Club and planes flying over the galleries with banners ballyhooing "Bootyism" and "Sex Addiction," that is until the FAA clipped the wings of the pilots for "mechanical" violations. Another affair popped up. Really? This time a 22 year-old ex-babysitter who Woods knew since she was fifteen came out. Imagine his self-control for six years? Let's not forget Nike wheeling out that twisted black and white commercial; where Woods' dead father asks his son, "Have you learned anything." I'm sure Tiger is thinking--in the numbing, minimalist spot-- that "sexting" is a bad idea.

It wasn't all emerald greens and sun-splashed days at the conservative club. Masters spokesperson, Billy Payne, admonished Woods for his sordid deeds and how he let down "our children and grandchildren." This brought out the always astute Charles Barkley. He called Payne a "punk" and 'master on the plantation" and even wished "someone would punch him in his face." The street finally comes to the fairways of Augusta.

ESPN did its best to keep viewers informed about the tournament by flashing "TIGER ALERTs" throughout the day--barely paying attention to the leaders. The crowds swooned at his every swing--even when the prickly Woods occasionally reared its head. He shook hands and gave away gloves to fans. Image is everything--especially now for Woods and his sponsors.

Now back to the real story. CBS didn't get the fairy tale--Tiger winning--it wanted but golf got a real storybook ending. Who couldn't be moved while watching a triumphant Mickelson hug his longtime caddy, Jim Mackay, march from the 18th hole through the cheering crowd and finally into the arms of his cancer-weakened spouse, Amy. Good thing Woods' wife, Elin, was plunking herself down on a private jet instead of watching. I'm sure it would have devastated her. Tiger had to lick his wounds alone.

Make no mistake about Mickelson's foibles and image. He cold-shoulders the same fans who salute him. He has his own loyalty to sponsors and has an reputation for blowing shots at crucial times--but he is not surrounded by scandal and an out-of-proportion ego. His detractors feel that he didn't cash in while Woods was in hiding. Phil, they claimed, was M.I.A. and should have brought his "A" game. I guess they didn't hear that both his wife and mother, Mary were battling breast cancer. Some men think of their families first. Still some had the nerve to say that Mickelson didn't win it as much as Woods lost it. Poor Tiger has a lot on his mind. Even after ditching into the clubhouse a crestfallen Woods brooded, "I'll take time off and re-evaluate things." Think all the other tour golfers weren't rooting for Mickelson?

Woods hasn't let it be known of his next tournament but, whether or not he plays, this week's final leader board fielded a great quintet at the top. Besides Mickelson and Woods, there was a strong finish by Anthony Kim, K.J. Koi, kept pace with Tiger all week looked solid, and finally, second place finisher, Lee Westwood, who seems on the verge of getting his first major. I think these five golfers could make the tour interesting this summer and the Woods/Mickelson rivalry is about more than golf in some circles.

Whichever tournament Woods decides is the next stop of his comeback tour; I'm sure the canned cheers of his fans will follow along with his personal baggage and more controversy. The Masters winner, Lefty, will be there. The big question that people will ask is, "will his wife, Elin, accompany Woods?" Myself, I'm wondering if Woods' caddy, Steve Williams, is planning to stash an anti-aircraft missle among the irons; for any planes carrying anti-Tiger banners over Woods'personal air space?