Mickelson to change Majors routine

Oakmont Diary: Once bitten, twice shy! Phil Mickelson, who has used extensive pre-championship practice rounds to the major venues as the template for his winning of three majors in recent years, intends to have another look at how he prepares for the majors after injuring his wrist playing out of the heavy rough at Oakmont in the build-up to this US Open.

After shooting a second round 77 for 151, 11-over, Mickelson - who wore a wrist brace to protect the injury - said: "I'm going to have to change things. It was dangerous to do what I did, because the rough was twice as long (as in the championship).

I thought they might play it that way, and certainly with this liquid fertiliser and these new machines that make the grass suck straight up, it is absolutely dangerous." He added: "On the first practice round on Monday, (physio) Jim Weathers had six other appointments, people hurting their backs, their ribs.

It's dangerous, it really is. You've got five or six-inch rough and you can only get a wedge in there.

What good is it to practice?" Expect to see Mickelson to be more careful in his major preparations in the future, starting with Carnoustie next month.

It's black and gold for Curtis

Ben Curtis is contracted to Reebok, which involves him to do two things: wear its American Football clothing during tournaments and wear the colours and logo of the team that is most closely associated with the golf course. Which explained why the one-time British Open champion was decked out in the black-and-gold colours of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Basquille guest of USGA

The Irish presence at Oakmont has been boosted by the arrival of GUI president Tommie Basquille, who is a guest of the USGA at the championship. Basquille, a member of Strandhill Golf Club in Co Sligo, had other duties earlier in the week . . . presenting the Irish Close trophy to champion Shane Lowry.

Host clubs have time to prepare

The USGA allow prospective US Open venues plenty of time to prepare for hosting the championship.

Pinehurst No 2 has been announced as the host venue for the major in 2014. Before that, Torrey Pines in California (2008), Bethpage in New York (2009), Pebble Beach in California (2010), Congressional in Maryland (2011), Olympic Club in San Francisco (2012) and Merion in Pennsylvania (2013) will get to stage the championship.

Plans in hand for play-off

Players are keeping their fingers crossed that the weather forecasters have got their predictions for the Pittsburgh area wrong . . . the short term forecast has predicted the possibility of thunderstorms in the area for tomorrow's final round.

If play is disrupted to the extent of being unable to finish on Sunday evening, the final round would be brought into Monday.

Of the four majors, the US Open is also the only one that has contingency plans for a full 18-hole play-off should there be no outright winner.

If a play-off is needed to determine this week's winner, it will start at noon (local time) on Monday.