RORY McILROY’S worst fears were realised in the cruellest fashion at St Andrews last night when his prospects of a first major title at the tender age of 21 were almost certainly blown away by the gale force winds that swept over the Old Course and turned the British Open into nothing short of a lottery.

Much has been made of England having eight players in next week’s Masters, but the South African contingent is arguably even stronger.

Helped by one of the more outrageous birdies of his career – and there have been an awful lot of them – Phil Mickelson is on course for the perfect pre-British Open pick-me-up tomorrow.

One of the more outrageous birdies of his career – and there have been an awful lot of them – propelled Phil Mickelson into the lead in the Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond today.