The good news continues to pour in concerning the U.S. Open that was held at Pinehurst No. 2.

Jose Maria Olazabal’s hand should heal in time to compete in the British Open according to a local surgeon, Phil Mickelson’s wife delivered a baby girl Monday with no complications and the final round of the Open got high television ratings.

Olazabal, who came back from well-documented foot problems to win this year’s Masters, sustained an injury to his hand when he struck a hotel wall Thursday evening after shooting a 75 in the first round of the Open.

Dr. Glen Subin, a local orthopedic surgeon and a specialist in treating hand injuries, just happened to be the on-call doctor at the Open Friday morning.

He examined Olazabal around 10 a.m. at the trainer’s tent set up at the course before taking the Spaniard to his office for x-rays.

It was determined that Olazabal had sustained a cracked bone in his hand (a non-displaced fracture of the fifth metacarpal, Subin said).

Subin attempted to tape the injured hand so Olazabal could make his noon starting time.

"He swung the golf club a few times," Subin said. "But it was too painful, and that was without hitting a ball."

So due to pain, discomfort and a chance of risking further injury to the hand, Subin recommended the golfer not compete. Olazabal withdrew from the tournament.

"He was a nice guy. I liked him a lot," Subin said. "He was disappointed, but he was more annoyed at himself. He didn’t blame anyone but himself."

Subin fitted Olazabal with a splint for his hand. Subin, who said an injury like Olazabal’s usually takes three-to-five weeks to heal, believes the golfer should be able to compete by the time the British Open rolls around. The championship across the pond will begin July 15.

The subject of Amy Mickelson’s pregnancy came up often during the Open, especially with her husband battling for his first win in a major. Mickelson eventually ended up second, one-stroke behind winner Payne Stewart.

But an even bigger moment may have come Monday when his wife gave birth to a baby girl. Amanda Brynn, born at 9:11 p.m., weighed 7 pounds, 4 ounces at birth and was 20½ inches long.

Although the baby wasn’t due until after the completion of the Open, there was always the possibility of an earlier delivery. Mickelson kept a beeper close by, which was to sound if his wife went into early labor, the entire time he was here in the Sandhills competing.

One beep and Mickelson was gone, he repeatedly said, regardless of his chances of winning the Open.

Mickelson and the beeper were a running story line throughout the championship. The smooth swinging left-hander stood steadfast in his statement that he "was out of here" if the beeper went off. He had a private jet waiting to whisk him away at the sound of a beep.

The best news for the local area was the exposure earned during NBC’s telecast of the Open. This year’s final round coverage tied the final round of 1997 for the highest ratings since NBC reacquired the event in 1995.

The network garnered a 6.8 national overnight rating, and a 19 share for Sunday’s final round. It was a 13 percent increase over last year’s final-round coverage at the Olympic Club in San Francisco.

The two-day average for NBC’s telecast was a 5.8 rating, and a 17 share.