Phil Mickelson Earns US Open Exemption After Criteria Changes

Lefty will once again have the chance to complete the career grand slam

Phil Mickelson Earns US Open Exemption After Criteria Changes

Phil Mickelson will get another chance to complete the career grand slam after earning an exemption into this year's US Open.

The six-time US Open runner-up has received a spot after the USGA made the world's top 70 on the 15th March, the final Official World Golf Ranking update before it was suspended, exempt for the tournament.

It was originally the top 60, and Mickelson was 61st at the time so was going to miss out.

However, with the qualification tournaments cancelled due to Covid-19, the USGA has been opening up exemptions.

Players ranked from 61st-70th at the time that have now earned spots, as well as Mickelson, include Eddie Pepperell, Robert MacIntyre, Lucas Herbert, Kurt Kitayama, Joel Dahmen and Keegan Bradley.

Mickelson has finished second on six occasions in his national Open, the only Major he is yet to win.

One of his most infamous runners-up finishes was at Winged Foot in 2006, where both he and Colin Montgomerie double-bogeyed the 18th to miss out by a shot to Geoff Ogilvy.

Related: Mickelson - "I'm not going to win the US Open"

Winged Foot once again hosts this year, with the US Open taking place in September after being postponed from June.

Another new way to qualify for the year's second Major will be via the top 10 on the mini order or merit after the fifth event of the European Tour's upcoming UK swing.

The USGA is also offering spots to the top two finishers, that aren't already exempt, at every non-Major PGA Tour event from next month's Memorial Tournament until the Wyndham Championship in August.

The top five players in both Korn Ferry Tour regular-season and Finals points lists will earn spots, as will the top seven ranked players in the World Amateur Golf Ranking after the US Amateur as well as Order of Merit leaders on various international tours.

For all the latest golf news, check the Golf Monthly website and follow our social media channels @golfmonthlymagazine on Facebook and @golfmonthly on Twitter and Instagram