The 126th U.S. Open begins Thursday at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y., with the best players in the world teeing it up on one of the hardest golf courses on the planet.
One legendary golfer who will not be in the field is Phil Mickelson. The 56-year-old, who is one U.S. Open win short of a career grand slam, had his five-year exemption from winning the 2021 PGA Championship expire and he didn’t try to qualify for this year’s event as he has been away from LIV Golf while dealing with a family health issue. Mickelson was also in the news last week when a report surfaced about him being kicked out of his private club in San Diego over allegations of inappropriate contact with a female employee.