Phil Mickelson to fly home for daughter’s graduation before U.S. Open

There are about 2,400 miles separating Pittsburgh and San Diego, but that’s not going to stop Phil Mickelson from attending his daughter’s eighth-grade graduation in the middle of U.S. Open week.

As Mickelson did before the 2013 U.S. Open at another Pennsylvania course, Merion, he was planning to catch a ride on his private jet on Monday night to attend a graduation -- this time for the Mickelsons’ second-born, Sophia.

According to his spokesman, the graduation ceremony is Tuesday and Mickelson is scheduled to return to Oakmont Country Club on Wednesday for a formal interview session with the media. He played a practice round at Oakmont on Monday.

In 2013, Mickelson garnered a lot of pre-tournament attention for returning to Rancho Santa Fe for oldest daughter Amanda’s eighth-grade graduation. It certainly didn’t hurt his play.

On no more than four hours of sleep, after flying all night and enduring a 2½-hour storm delay, playing with no driver and five wedges in his bag, Mickelson glided through soggy conditions to open with a leading 67. He held at least a portion of the lead for the first three days, but then faltered with a 74 and was overtaken by winner Justin Rose. Mickelson tied Jason Day for second for a record sixth runner-up finish.