Links golf no longer has Phil Mickelson’s number

It remains one of the most enduring and endearing images of recent Open Championship history.

In the immediate aftermath of victory in the 2013 Open Championship at Muirfield, Phil Mickelson could remove neither the smile from his face or his hand from golf’s most iconic trophy, the Old Claret Jug. He may already have won four major championships, but this one clearly meant the most to the then 43-year old Californian. This one was for him.

Which is understandable. Until he claimed the Scottish Open title seven days before — he traversed the last six holes of the famous East Lothian links in a remarkable four under par, “the best I have ever played” — there were always a couple of asterisks when it came to analysing Mickelson’s otherwise stellar career.