Phil Mickelson described the final-day pin positions at the British Open as “very challenging” but stopped short of criticising them.

The chances of Darren Clarke playing in Ireland’s first staging of the Ryder Cup all but disappeared yesterday – but countryman Graeme McDowell could yet take his place.

It will probably lack the headbutting of the World Cup and the grunting of Wimbledon. It will certainly lack a woman, Michelle Wie having failed last night in her bid to stay among the contenders for the last of the 156 places in the field.

Phil Mickelson today showed just how serious he is about next month’s British Open at Hoylake, flying in by private jet with his caddie, short-game coach Dave Pelz and his father for a first practice round.

Masters champion Phil Mickelson is doing what all good golfers do – taking it one shot at a time, one round at a time and one major at a time.