Phil Mickelson After limping off the ninth green at The Country Club outside Boston on Friday, the good news for Phil

Mickelson is that he won't have to worry about missing the cut in his next start in two weeks. Mickelson

didn't accomplish that at the 122nd US Open, though he did improve in the second round on Friday. He shot a

3-over 73, bringing his 36-hole total to 11 over. When he walked off the course, he was tied for 143rd place out of 156 players.

The week was enjoyable for me. I just wish I'd done a better job, "Mickelson said afterward, before leaving the club in a

courtesy SUV with his squad. Mickelson, a six-time major champion, was playing in his first tournament since late

January in the United States. PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan has penalised 17 players indefinitely for

competing in the inaugural LIV Golf Invitational Series event in London last week without a conflicting-event release.

Mickelson, 52, expects to compete in the inaugural LIV Golf event in the United States, which will be held at Pumpkin Ridge

in Portland, Oregon, from June 30 to July 2. There are no cuts, shotgun starts, or $25 million purses in the LIV tournaments.