Web.com golfer Roberto Diaz waiting for U.S. Open call

One golfer listed on the Air Capital Classic pairings that were announced Tuesday has a vested interested in whether Phil Mickelson will play in the U.S. Open.

Web.com Tour player Roberto Diaz is the first alternate awaiting entry into Thursday’s championship in Erin, Wis. Diaz, 30, lost a playoff at a sectional qualifier in Summit, N.J., but has been allowed to practice at Erin Hills in case a spot comes open.

That spot likely could come from Mickelson, who plans to attend his daughter Amanda’s high school graduation on Thursday in San Diego. Mickelson’s first-round tee time is 2:20 p.m. that day.

“Obviously, everybody is telling me that I might take Phil’s spot,” Diaz said after a practice round on Monday. “With him, you never know. They might change the graduation. He might take a plane and get here in time, so you never know.”

Diaz, who has not played in a major, was given an 8:50 a.m. tee time Thursday at Crestview Country Club, but will likely withdraw while he awaits his fate. Tulsa native Charlie Saxon is the first alternate for the Air Capital Classic.

Getting their basketball fix – Web.com golfers Kent Bulle, Armando Favela, Justin Lower and Josh Teater toured Koch Arena and witnessed a Wichita State basketball summer workout before taking the court themselves for a shootaround.

Bulle and Teater are Kentucky natives and fans of the Wildcats, who defeated WSU 65-62 in the NCAA Tournament in March. The Ohio-born Lower is a fan of the Cleveland Cavaliers, who were eliminated by the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals on Monday.

WSU coach Gregg Marshall visited with the golfers. Marshall will play in Wednesday’s Marge Page Pro-Am at Crestview while his son, Kellen, a student manager for the Shockers, will caddie for Brett Drewitt in this week’s tournament.

Etc. – Wednesday’s final day of preparation for the Air Capital Classic features the pro-am event, which begins at 6:50 a.m. on Crestview’s North course. … Five of the last eight Air Capital Classic champions are in this year’s filed. The group includes Chris Tidland (2009), Casey Wittenberg (2012), Scott Parel (2013), Sebastian Cappelen (2014) and Rob Oppenheim (2015).

This story was originally published June 13, 2017 at 7:37 PM with the headline "Web.com golfer Roberto Diaz waiting for U.S. Open call."