Should Michael Thompson be lauded to any great degree for what happened on the 15th green at Augusta National Golf Club on Friday?

The Alabama senior, playing in the Masters Tournament after finishing second in the 2007 U.S. Amateur, didn't think so -- especially in the arena and the tournament created by Bobby Jones, who famously said that crediting someone for following the Rules of Golf would be like "praising a man for not robbing a bank."

But his playing partner, two-time Masters Champion Ben Crenshaw, said Thompson is right in not seeking praise for calling a penalty on himself when his ball moved on the putting surface ... and wrong.

"Don't dismiss lightly what he did out there," Crenshaw said. "He's a true gentleman."

Thompson had a 15-foot birdie putt attempt on the 15th green and, at the time, was on the projected cut line at 4-over. The only other two amateurs in the field, Trip Kuehne (6-over) and Drew Weaver (12-over), were finished for the day.

Thompson addressed his ball on the green, and grounded his putter. The ball then moved slightly (TV replays showed the movement) and Thompson immediately backed off and called a rules official and his playing partners (Crenshaw and Nick O'Hern) over to tell them his ball moved, and that he was calling it on himself.

According to the rules, Thompson had to take a one-stroke penalty, and replace his ball as close to the original spot as he could. It wound up being about the distance of a dimple.

Instead of a birdie attempt, Thompson was putting for par. He missed it and tapped in for bogey to go to 5-over. Thompson went on to bogey Nos. 16 and 17 and shot 78 to finish at 7-over 151.

After his round, Thompson was concerned only with the hit his conscience would have taken had he not called the penalty, not what it cost him.

"It was unfortunate, but I'm sure it's happened many a time before (me)," he said. "Those greens are super-fast. It's just part of the game. You've got to follow the rules. It doesn't matter how you're playing or what's going on."

Justin Leonard, who finished one group ahead of Thompson, said it's a hazard of playing Augusta National greens, with some wind.

"It's happened to me before," he said. "When the greens get really dried out and fast and firm, you get these little gusts like you get today, and it can happen anywhere. It's unfortunate."

Two of Thompson's college coaches were watching with a mixture of pride and sympathy: Thompson's coach from his two years at Tulane, Thomas Shaw, who was his caddie this week; and Alabama coach Jay Seawell, who is a former Augusta State coach.

"In a way, the sport should be praised more than the person," Shaw said. "It's the culture of golf, and Michael was brought up in that culture. But he's a great young man, and no one should be surprised at what he did."

As to any disappointment, Shaw reminded questioners that Thompson lost all of his personal possessions at Tulane when Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005. Thompson transferred to Alabama two years ago.

"This kid lost everything he had at Tulane," Shaw said. "Don't worry about him bouncing back from this."

Thompson said the incident at No. 15 and losing the chance to play on the weekend of the Masters and be the low amateur would pale in memory to other moments he enjoyed during the week.

"The things I'm going to remember are my birdie at (No.) 9 the first day ... then that last putt (at No. 18)," he said. "It's really just fun. I'm going to come away with more confidence than I will disappointment."