Phil Mickelson to Miss US Open to Attend Daughter's HS Graduation

Phil Mickelson announced Saturday he'll pass up a chance to complete the career Grand Slam at the 2017 U.S. Open to attend his daughter's graduation from high school in mid-June.

Karen Crouse of the New York Times passed along comments Mickelson made about the family-first approach before playing the third round of the Memorial Tournament.

"As I look back on life, this is a moment I'll always cherish and be glad I was present," he said. "There's no greater joy as a parent."

Mickelson won his first of three Masters titles in 2004, captured the PGA Championship in 2005 and conquered the Open Championship in 2013. The past three years have been a pursuit of the missing major.

The 46-year-old California native has finished second in the U.S. Open six times in his career, most recently in 2013 at Merion Golf Club in Pennsylvania.

Last year, before he missed the cut in his 26th U.S. Open appearance, Lefty acknowledged it's the one title he wants more than anything else, per Cameron Morfit of Golf.com.

"I could BS you and tell you I don't think about it," Mickelson said. "No, I think about it all the time. This is the tournament I want to win the most to complete the four majors. There's no question."

The calendar will prevent him from making a run at the title this time, though. His daughter, Amanda, is graduating June 15, the same day as the first round at Erin Hills in Wisconsin. Mickelson said he couldn't pass up the chance to attend before she heads off to college, according to the New York Times.

"It feels like time's gone by so fast," he said.

On the course, Mickelson has struggled with his form in recent months. He hasn't earned a top-10 finish in a stroke-play event since the WGC-Mexico Championship in early March. And he's winless on the PGA Tour since his triumph at The Open Championship in 2013.