At ease Mickelson steals Woods’ thunder

PHIL MICKELSON, by and large, is a delightful man, friendly, courteous, co-operative.

It may all be an act, of course, but whether Tiger Woods fans like it or not, it was the caucasian from San Diego rather than the African-American from Orlando who made the most favourable impression when they arrived back to back in the media centre at Pinehurst yesterday.

Whereas Tiger flashed those pearly white teeth and elaborated on the questions he wanted to hear and went monosyllabic on those he didn't like, Mickelson was open and warm and apparently fully at ease with himself.