Phil Mickelson, a reining statesman of professional golf at 48, should be banned from professional golf because he disrespected, no; he WILLFULLY VIOLATED the most fundamental rule of the game for millions to see on TV at the United States Open today playing like a rank amateur:

STRIKE THE BALL UNTIL YOU GET IT IN THE HOLE AND COUNT ALL STRIKES, DUMMY!

GOLF HAS LASTED FOR OVER 500 YEARS BECAUSE IT PRESENTS THE MOST UNIQUE AND MOST SIMPLE CHALLENGE EVER CONCEIVED:

THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THE BALL WILL EVER GET IN THE HOLE, AND NO LIMIT ON STROKES TO BE COUNTED, AND NO TIME LIMIT OR OTHER CONSTRAINT THAN STRIKE THE BALL AS IT LAY UNTIL IT IS IN THE HOLE!

Phil Mickelson violated this primary principle that defines the game when he stopped his ball from rolling down hill away from the  hole as a strategy for minimizing his total strokes on the hole.  He basically said he was gaming the rules and accepted a two-stroke penalty; this is straight-up cheating the game, his competitors and the viewing public.

He should be banned from professional golf until he publicly confesses to the public on TV and writes an earnest apology to each of his competitors and the USGA for violating the Game of Golf with his childish and selfish behavior.