Phil Mickelson pulls out of US Open ahead of daughter's graduation

Phil Mickelson has withdrawn from the US Open after realising he would not have made his tee time after his daughter's graduation.

The American had endured an anxious wait on Thursday keeping across the weather with a private jet on standby as the 117th US Open got under way at Erin Hills.

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Despite needing to complete a career grand slam by winning the US Open, in which he has been runner-up a record six times, Mickelson was desperate to attend the high-school graduation of his daughter Amanda, born the day after he was second to Payne Stewart at Pinehurst in 1999.

A lengthy weather delay would have given the 46-year-old a chance of making a last-minute dash from California to Wisconsin by private jet.

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But later on Thursday improved weather conditions forced Mickelson to decide against the complicated travel schedule.

This meant first alternate Roberto Diaz took his place alongside Stewart Cink and Steve Stricker in a group due to tee off at 2.20pm local time (8.20pm BST).

Play started on schedule at 6:45am local time with the last three champions, Martin Kaymer, Jordan Spieth and Dustin Johnson, teeing off at 8:35am.

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Johnson only arrived at Erin Hills on Tuesday afternoon after fiancee Paulina Gretzky gave birth to the couple's second son - named River Jones Johnson - on Monday, but the world No 1 is targeting the first successful title defence since Curtis Strange in 1989.

"It's been very fun the last couple of days, obviously having a new son on Monday was awesome," Johnson said. "Everybody's healthy so that's good.

"It actually worked out pretty well that I missed the cut at Memorial, even though I didn't want to. I came up here and got to practice for two days. Even though I came in late I didn't feel like I was behind the 8-ball at all because I got to prepare 10 days ago or so."

Maiden title

Who could win their first major at the US Open?

This year's US Open will be the first major championship for 23 years with neither Mickelson nor Tiger Woods in the field.

Mickelson missed the 1994 Masters due to a broken leg suffered in a skiing accident, while Woods was still two years away from turning professional.