Mickelson to play Colonial, Memorial prior to U.S. Open

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Masters champion Phil Mickelson will play the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial and Memorial Tournament in his run-up to the U.S. Open.

A by-product of success in these events could mean that Mickelson becomes the No. 1 player in the world. He would have overtaken Tiger Woods for the top spot had he won last week's PLAYERS Championship but Mickelson ended up tied for 17th.

Mickelson won at Colonial in 2008 but was unable to defend after announcing that his wife Amy had been diagnosed with breast cancer. A "Pink Out" in support of the family and to raise awareness of the disease was held during the third round of the tournament last year and another one is scheduled in 2010.

The No. 2 player in the world also committed to the Memorial on Tuesday. Mickelson has never won Jack Nicklaus' event but he tied for fourth at Muirfield Village in 2006 and has finished 20th or better in his last four starts there.

Mickelson normally likes to play the week prior to a major but he said earlier this year that the grasses at TPC Southwind, which hosts the St. Jude Classic, and Pebble Beach at simply too different. So he plans to use the week prior to the U.S. Open to get in some extra practice on the Monterey Peninsula.

Mickelson has never won the U.S. Open, but he has five runner-up finishes in the national championship. One of those came last year at Bethpage Black where Mickelson finished two strokes behind Lucas Glover.

Since winning his third Masters, which was the fourth major of his career, Mickelson has played twice. He was second at the Quail Hollow Championship prior to THE PLAYERS.

Commitments become final at 5 p.m. on the Friday of the week before the event.