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Mickelson accepts special exemption into hometown U.S. Open

Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Phil Mickelson received and accepted a special exemption into the 2021 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines in his hometown of San Diego, the United States Golf Association announced on Friday.

"Winning the U.S. Open has been a lifelong and elusive dream, and I’ve come close so many times," said Mickelson. "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."

The 50-year-old, who ranks 116th in the world, will no longer need to jump inside the top 60 by either the May 24 or June 7 deadline and won't be required to participate in sectional qualifying.

Mickelson was unsure in April if he'd accept a special invitation, which was a change of tune from February 2020.

"I won't accept it," he said last year. "So I am either going to get in the field on my own, or I'll have to try to qualify. I'm not going to take a special exemption. ... I think I'll get in the tournament. If I get in, I deserve to be there. If I don't, I don't."

The five-time major winner has finished as a runner-up at the U.S. Open on six occasions, the most recent coming in 2013 when he lost to Justin Rose at Merion Golf Club by two shots. It's the only major he needs to complete the career grand slam.

Mickelson is the 35th player to receive a special exemption from the USGA dating back to 1966 and the first non-U.S. Open winner to be handed the honor since Nick Price in 2005. The last player to accept a special invite was Ernie Els in 2019.

The 2021 U.S. Open begins on June 17, one day after Mickelson's 51st birthday.

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