Dustin will play after fiancée gives birth

ERIN, Wis. — We already know Phil Mickelson is not expected to play the U.S. Open. Mickelson will be attending the high school graduation of his daughter Amanda on Thursday, when the first round is scheduled to be played.

Defending champion Dustin Johnson had been in a similar boat, stating he would not play if pregnant fianceé Paulina Gretzky did not give birth before the start of the tournament. Now, it looks like the world’s No. 1 player is clear to tee off at Erin Hills after Gretzky reportedly underwent a scheduled Csection Monday to deliver the couple’s second child. Johnson’s firstround tee time is 9:35 a.m. Thursday, and he is paired with Jordan Spieth and Martin Kaymer, two fellow former U.S. Open winners. Johnson missed the cut at the Memorial tournament last week and has not won since back-to-back victories in February at the Genesis Open and WGC-Mexico Championship.

➤ In April, Stewart Hagestad had the week of his life, becoming the first mid-amateur champion to make the cut at the Masters.

What does he have in store for an encore at Erin Hills this week after earning a tee time in his second major championship this year in the sectionals qualifying?

“I’m a little bit better prepared from knowing what to expect,” he said Monday. “I knew I’d be nervous and anxious at Augusta, but it’s the Masters and you’re secondguessing everything you do. But from a preparation standpoint, I didn’t make as many trips here as I did to Augusta. I think I was a little bit more comfortable there versus here.”