The wedge and putter that staked Phil Mickelson to a share of the lead in the U.S. Open were not the most important items in his bag today.

That would be the pager he keeps in a side pocket, his link to an expectant wife in Arizona and word that their first child is on the way. Amy has a special code to punch in should she go into labor.

There were no beeps in the first round, just birdies.

Mickelson took advantage of his deft touch around the greens and a damp, vulnerable Pinehurst No. 2 for a 3-under 67, putting him at the top of a packed leaderboard that included David Duval.

Tiger Woods dazzled the gallery with two birdies on the last two holes for a 68. He was joined there by Payne Stewart and a suddenly surprising contender -- John Daly.

Even after his best start ever in a U.S. Open, an important first step toward winning his first major championship, Mickelson wouldn't think twice about leaving early.

"It's not worth the tournament," he said. "As important as the U.S. Open is to me and every other player in the field, this is the birth of my first child. I wouldn't miss it for the world. This is an exciting time for me."

That may not be the case for everyone else.

On what figures to be the easiest day for scoring because of the soft greens, the best anyone could muster was a 67. The sun finally broke through the clouds and drizzle late in the day. It is expected to stick around through the weekend, which will only harden the already treacherous, crowned greens designed by Donald Ross.

"This is as tame as we'll play the golf course all week," Stewart said. "If you really didn't take advantage of the golf course today, you really have your work cut out for you."

Billy Mayfair, who lives near Mickelson in Scottsdale, Ariz., and whose wife just found out she was expecting their first child, made three long birdie putts to join the crowd at 67.

"I've got his beeper number," Mayfair joked.

Paul Goydos birdied three of the last six holes to get to 67. Rocco Mediate also was at 3-under with three holes to play.

Duval, who burned his right thumb and forefinger making coffee six days ago, apparently is a quick healer. He breezed through Pinehurst with Hogan-like precision on his way to a bogey-free round, the first time he has broken par in the first round of a U.S. Open.

"I was not able to practice quite like I would have liked, but there are times when that's good," Duval said. "When I did finally hit balls on Tuesday, everything was where I wanted it to be."

After one round, everything is in place for what could shape up to be a thrilling next three days, perhaps even the long-awaited duel between Woods and Duval.

A winner in his last two starts, Woods recovered from consecutive bogeys with two big par saves and two thrilling birdies - a 7-iron that almost went in the hole on the par-3 17th, and an 18-foot birdie putt on the 18th. Like Duval, it was the first time Woods has been near the lead after the first round of a U.S. Open.

"I didn't play my best, but I hung in there and made a lot of saves," Woods said. "In order to win a U.S. Open, you have to do that."

This is supposed to be an Open unlike any other, particularly because of the relatively tame rough and shaved collection areas around the greens. Maybe that explains what Daly was doing around the lead, starting with birdies on the first three holes.

He has either missed the cut or withdrawn from his last four tournaments. One of those came after a six-putt from 8 feet on the 18th green in the Memorial. Daly has yet to finish in the top 10 this year, and he has never finished better than 27th in a U.S. Open.

But he was bombing his drives, chipping and putting like a magician and looking hip in his orange-tinted sunglasses. He lost a chance to be among the leaders with a wayward drive on the 18th that led to a bogey.

"John can play at any time," Woods said. "He hits it a long way, but he's got a wonderful short game. People overlook his touch."

Mickelson's touch has rarely been questioned, and he showed why on the 482-yard fifth hole, which plays as a par-4 this week. His 5-iron caught the back slope and rolled off the green, a familiar site at Pinehurst No. 2.

Bumping it into the slope with the closed face of his wedge, the ball skidded across the green and into the cup for a birdie.

Mickelson sauntered on to the next tee box, both hands in his pockets. Clearly, there were more important matters on his mind.

His wife's pregnancy has not been easy. She went into early labor in late March and only recently have they been getting good reports from the doctor. Still, he wasn't even sure he would come to Pinehurst until Tuesday morning.

He has a cell phone in his bag in case the pager goes off, and a private plane standing by. The trip home should take no longer than five hours.

"As you know, I'm a pilot," Mickelson said. I've got my co-pilot ready ... and we'll go."

Will Mickelson do the flying?

"Possibly," he said with a smile.

AP