2017 U.S. OPEN

U.S. Open tee times: Steve Stricker paired with Phil Mickelson, maybe

Gary D'Amato
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
If Phil Mickelson (right) is playing, he will be paired with Steve Stricker in the first and second rounds of the U.S. Open.

Steve Stricker drew an interesting pairing for the first two rounds of the U.S. Open at Erin Hills Golf Course next week.

The Madison golfer will play with six-time U.S. Open runner-up Phil Mickelson … if Mickelson shows up.

Mickelson has said he probably would withdraw from the championship in order to attend the graduation of his daughter, Amanda, from Pacific Ridge School in Carlsbad, Calif. The ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, the day of the first round.

“My daughter is graduating and she’s the school president and I’m going to be there,” Mickelson said last week. “Unfortunately, it comes on the Thursday of the Open, around 10 in the morning Pacific (time). So there’s just really no way to make it (home), no matter what the tee time is.

“I mean, it’s the tournament I want to win the most, but this is one of those moments where you look back on life and you just don’t want to miss it. I’ll be really glad that I was there and present.”

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As of Thursday afternoon, however, Mickelson had not withdrawn. Thus, the United States Golf Association included him in the pairings.

Stricker, Mickelson – or an alternate – and Stewart Cink are scheduled to tee off at 2:20 p.m. Thursday on the first hole and at 8:35 a.m. Friday on No. 10.

Jordan Niebrugge of Mequon, the only other Wisconsin golfer in the U.S. Open field of 156, will be first off the No. 1 tee at 6:45 a.m. Thursday. He’ll start the second round at 12:30 p.m. Friday.

Defending champion Dustin Johnson will play with two other U.S. Open winners: Jordan Spieth and Martin Kaymer of Germany. They are scheduled to start at 8:35 a.m. Thursday and 2:20 p.m. Friday.

Other marquee pairings include Bubba Watson, Adam Scott and Sergio Garcia; Jason Day, Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy; and Hideki Matsuyama, Rickie Fowler and Jon Rahm.