Mickelson will skip British Open

Golf: Phil Mickelson will skip the British Open so he can be with his wife as she starts her recovery from breast cancer, ending the longest active streak of majors played at 61.

His wife, Amy, had surgery July 1 for breast cancer and they are still waiting to decide the best treatment. While his wife was ready to have surgery, Mickelson learned his mother also had been diagnosed with breast cancer.

He will be replaced in the field by Ben Crane. The alternate list is based on this week’s world ranking of players who were not already eligible. Steve Marino becomes the first alternate.

“It’s a trying time for us as we await more test results, but we have excellent medical attention and care,” Mickelson said.

A three-time major champion, Mickelson has competed in every major since the 1994 U.S. Open, after missing the Masters that year when he broke his leg skiing. Next on the list is Vijay Singh, who will be playing in his 61st straight major at Turnberry. Jack Nicklaus holds the record of 146 straight majors from 1962 to 1998.

Associated Press

Blazers’ Mills breaks foot

Basketball: Portland Trail Blazers draft pick Patty Mills broke his right foot during practice and won’t play in the NBA’s summer league.

The Blazers said Friday that Mills fractured the fifth metatarsal in his right foot Thursday night. He will have surgery on his foot Monday, the team announced.

A timetable for the point guard’s return has not been determined.

Mills, who played at Saint Mary’s, was selected by the Blazers with the 55th pick.

Associated Press

WSU announces 3 game times

Football: Washington State University announced kickoff times for the first three games of this season. The season opener at home against Stanford on Sept. 5 is set for 5 p.m. The Cougars’ Sept. 12 game against Hawaii at Seattle’s Qwest Field is scheduled for 4 p.m. The Sept. 19 home game against Southern Methodist will begin at 2 p.m.

The only other contest on the 2009 schedule with an announced start time is against Notre Dame at San Antonio on Oct. 31. That game will begin at 4:30 p.m. (PDT) and will be televised nationally by NBC.