'Call me Phil!' Mickelson stand-in Diaz cards 72

Jun 15, 2017; Erin, WI, USA; Roberto Diaz putts on the 9th green during the first round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Erin Hills. Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports

ERIN, Wisconsin (Reuters) - Mexican Roberto Diaz did not want to get his hopes up of playing in the U.S. Open so the alternate convinced himself that Phil Mickelson was going to show up at Erin Hills to take his place on the tee box right up until early Thursday morning.

When told the five-times major winner, who was attending his daughter's high school graduation, had officially withdrawn, Diaz was thrust into his first U.S. Open and more than held his own, a birdie at the last capping a respectable even-par 72.