Patrick Reed set the tone but it was Phil Mickelson who got US bosses stirring, writes Simon Lewis.

DES SMYTH has good reason to feel optimistic about the new season after an encouraging start to his Champions Tour campaign at the weekend.

NO sooner had speculation ended on who the European Ryder Cup captain should be at The K Club next year than we are now into the business of guessing who should be Ian Woosnam’s vice-captain.