Rory handed early shot at Mickelson

Rory McIlroy has the chance to let his golf do the talking against Phil Mickelson in the opening session of the Ryder Cup, in a match US captain Tom Watson predicted should be a “barn-burner”.

Mickelson joked yesterday about McIlroy’s court case against the Northern Irishman’s former management company Horizon, which has seen team-mate Graeme McDowell dragged into the dispute as he is still represented by them.