Mickelson accepts special exemption into U.S. Open after saying he wouldn’t

SAN DIEGO — Fifteen months ago, Phil Mickelson said he wouldn’t accept a special exemption for the U.S. Open, reasoning that “I don’t want a sympathy spot.”

Guess who just received a special exemption into the tournament next month at Torrey Pines Golf Course.

The U.S. Golf Association announced Friday morning that the 50-year-old who grew up in San Diego and still lives a short drive from Torrey Pines would be part of the 156-player field despite not meeting other entry criteria. About half the field receives exemptions from past performances or being in the top 60 of the world golf rankings; the other half must go through qualifying events, and Mickelson, currently No. 116, was scheduled to play in a 36-hole qualifier in Columbus, Ohio, on June 7.

But the USGA also has the power to grant special exemptions, something it rarely does and something Mickelson as recently as two weeks ago said he was unsure he would accept.

“The venue doesn’t make a difference,” he told ESPN on April 30. “I just don’t know the answer yet.”

The USGA release didn’t shed any light on his reversal, including a statement from the six-time runner-up that said: “Winning the U.S. Open has been a lifelong and elusive dream, and I’ve come close many times. You can’t win if you don’t play. I’m honored and appreciative of the USGA for the opportunity and look forward to playing in my hometown on a golf course I grew up on.”

Mickelson also had run out of automatic exemptions and needed to go through qualifying for the 2020 U.S. Open at Winged Foot in Mamaroneck, N.Y., before qualifying was canceled and the tournament moved to September because of the pandemic. It featured a fully exempt field that included Mickelson.