Phil Mickelson is set to tee off at 7:11 a.m. Thursday in the morning’s “marquee group.”
Phil Mickelson cancelled a 2:30 press conference Tuesday at Merion to attend his daughter’s eighth-grade graduation.
Mickelson had been in town since Monday, but the rain-soaked course was closed twice by USGA officials and he wasn’t able to practice. The golfer decided to return home to California, where he could hear his daughter Amanda’s speech and take advantage of the nicer weather to practice.
“I was scheduled to return to San Diego after my 2:30 press conference Tuesday. I came back Monday,” Mickelson said in the statement. “My daughter Amanda is speaking at her 8th grade graduation ceremony and I always planned on being here for that, but since it was raining so much Monday and we didn’t know if we’d even be able to play a sloppy course, I came home last night to practice in great weather on my range and greens. I’ll be ready to go Thursday.”
Mickelson, who is paired with Steve Stricker and Keegan Bradley for the Open, plans to return to Ardmore late Wednesday night. He has a 7:11 starting time Thursday.
