AUGUSTA, Ga. — Michael Thompson didn't make the cut, but he walked away from Augusta National with the respect of the golf world.

Thompson, the U.S. Amateur runner-up stood at 4-over on the 15th hole in today's second round, battling for a chance to make the cut. As he placed his putter on the ground for the birdie try, Thompson noticed the ball moved slightly, probably because of a slight puff of wind.

Thompson promptly called a penalty stroke on himself. Under the rules, if a player grounds his club and the ball moves, he is assessed a one-stroke penalty.

Rattled, Thompson went on to bogey three straight holes and wound up shooting 78, missing the cut by four strokes.

Because only Thompson saw the ball move, he could have ignored it and hit the putt. But the integrity of the game meant more to him.

"I don't want to create a bad image about myself, and that's something you just have to do," Thompson said. "You have to follow the rules. It doesn't matter how you're playing or what's going on. It just happens."

Give a birdie to Thompson for doing the honorable thing. And here's hoping he will get many more chances at Augusta National.