Phil Mickelson upstages the Tiger and Rory show

VINTAGE: Phil Mickelson reacts on the 18th hole during the final round of the Masters on Sunday. Pic: David J Phillip/AP

Masters week in April is always a long one in Augusta. The Monday before the major, all the talk around the course was about Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, who were out playing a practice round together. Whether it really was or not, their pairing felt like a pointed rejoinder to the LIV golfers who were still arriving at the course. Woods and McIlroy aren’t just the two biggest names in the game, but the two most outspoken critics of the breakaway tour. And here they were, taking ownership of the biggest stage.

Augusta National is a spacious place, but when Woods and McIlroy are out and about there’s not a lot of room left for anyone else.