Mickelson’s US Open absence confirmed

Phil Mickelson has confirmed he will not be playing at the 2017 US Open due to his daughter’s graduation.

The timing of the US Open this year in Wisconsin has clashed with one of his daughters’ high school graduation in California and there won’t be enough time to get to the Erin Hills course.

The 46-year-old American was waiting on the weather forecast, which had suggested bad weather could delay the start of play on Thursday, but bright sunshine in the morning confirmed he would not be making the tournament.

‘Lefty’, who will be missing the second major of the year for the first time since 1993, will have to wait until 2018 to try and complete the Grand Slam, having finished runner-up on six occasions at the US Open.

World number 396 Roberto Diaz has been officially confirmed as Mickelson’s replacement for the event and the Mexican will be hoping for a big improvement after he missed the cut in three of his last four outings.