Phil Mickelson’s not the only big name with scheduling issues involving his family that could affect his ability to compete in this week’s U.S. Open.
U.S. Open 2017: Dustin Johnson won’t defend his title until Paulina Gretzky delivers their 2nd child
Paulina Gretzky must give birth to her and Dustin Johnson’s second child before the defending champ can make his way to Erin Hills.
While there’s a really long shot that Mickelson will be able to make his Thursday afternoon tee time (the six-time U.S. Open runner-up has not yet withdrawn from the event), Dustin Johnson is home waiting for his fiancee, Paulina Gretzky, to give birth to the couple’s second child. Johnson’s chances of getting to Erin Hills in time for some practice and to defend his 2016 title, though, are far greater than the 10-1 odds BookMaker.eu gives Mickelson of playing in the tournament.
UPDATE: Paulina did give birth to a boy on Monday. Ian O’Connor of ESPN tweeted the news. There were also reports that DJ had a late Tuesday practice round tee time with Brooks Koepka, so he may well be on his way to Wisconsin already.
Gretzky was scheduled to have a C-section on Monday, allowing hubby to be by her side for the delivery and get into Wisconsin for his early morning golf date on Thursday with Martin Kaymer and Jordan Spieth.
Johnson, unlike Mickelson, who has never played Erin Hills, has logged time on the “don’t call it a links” course some 35 miles from Milwaukee.
So even if he were to arrive with little time to spare, the oddsmakers’ favorite to win the 117th national championship will have some idea of how to play the public track, which is making its debut in the U.S. Open rotation.
“He really liked the course and feels like it sets up beautifully for his game,” David Winkle, Johnson’s agent, told Golf Digest recently. “He feels good about the venue and the state of his game.”
And, of course, there’s that other, um, huge advantage Johnson has over Mickelson and everyone else in the field, according to Johnson’s swing coach Butch Harmon.
”When Dustin Johnson goes to the first tee he’s got to take his balls in a wheelbarrow,” Harmon said last week on Vegas Stats & Information Network. “He’s not afraid of anything.”
So, really, the only challenge facing the world No. 1 is finding a rickshaw big enough to carry him and his cargo to that first tee.
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