Lucky Phil Mickelson one over after eventful round

What a difference a fortnight makes. Phil Mickelson came off the 18th after his first round at Royal Troon two weeks ago cursing the golfing gods for a lipped-out putt at the last which had denied him a major championships-record 62.

At Baltusrol yesterday, the veteran American who played so well at the Open but finished runner-up to Henrik Stenson, would have given his left arm for an opening 63. Mickelson was nonetheless satisfied that, after an awful first 11 holes which would have left him feeling fortunate to be only four over par, he had done enough to recover during the closing seven holes to sign for a one-over 71.

Just 11 days after shooting a closing 65 to reach 17 under par at Troon, a score good enough to have won the Claret Jug nine times out of ten, Mickelson came out in New Jersey and at times looked like a Sunday hacker, spraying the ball left and right off the tee.