Sports

Mickelson showing up late to U.S. Open to attend daughter’s graduation

ARDMORE, Pa. — Phil Mickelson has always walked to his own beat and been a part of some off-beat things in his golf career. He, too, has always been a devoted family man. This week’s U.S. Open for him blends the two.

Mickelson, it was revealed on Tuesday, is not arriving to Merion until late Wednesday night so he can attend the eighth-grade graduation of his daughter, Amanda. He has a 7:11 a.m. tee time in Thursday morning’s opening round.

Mickelson came to Merion for a couple days of practice early last week before going to play the Fed Ex St. Jude Classic in Memphis, where finished tied for second, two shots behind winner Harris English.

He came to Merion on Monday but was unable to get in much practice because of the severe weather conditions that twice closed the course. So he flew back home to California to practice there and be at his daughter’s event.

According to his spokesman, Mickelson’s plan is to fly back to Pennsylvania after the graduation on Wednesday to be at Merion for his morning tee time with Keegan Bradley and Steve Stricker.

Mickelson, who turns 43 on Sunday, had a scheduled pre-tournament press conference on Tuesday that was cancelled.

Mickelson, who’s won four majors and has a total of 41 PGA Tour titles, has never won a U.S. Open, which he has said is his most coveted title. He has a record five runner-up finishes at the U.S. Open.

Though Mickelson was not on site at Merion, his caddie, Jim “Bones’’ Mackay, was on the course charting yardages Monday.