Drive for Show

Driving was also a hot topic at The Open at Muirfield. With bone dry fairways and thick rough there was always going to be a premium on straight hitting, but length was not necessarily an issue. Brett Rumford was one of a number of players who did not carry a driver at all, preferring to carry two 3-woods, having had an extra one especially made up for The Open. Of course, Phil Mickelson went driverless too, relying on his strong Callaway 3-wood, the Phrankenwood. Hitting the par-five 17th into the stiff wind on Sunday with two of them, when none of the others could reach using a driver, will live long in the memory. His birdie there was probably the moment he sealed his sensational victory.

At the start of the week, I had sat at the feet of Butch Harmon, who coaches Mickelson, for my annual insight into the American's world. He is always riveting to listen to. He felt then that Phil was ready at last to win a title they had both for long doubted he had the necessary skills to win. Harmon described Mickelson as "the left handed Seve", and with his win in East Lothian, Phil drew alongside Ballesteros with five majors apiece. It is a comparison that even the great Spaniard would probably accept. Mickelson's putting was as good, if not better than it has ever been, and some of his artistry around the greens would have had Seve purring with delight. His 32 on the treacherous back nine on Sunday was only the fifth all week, and was born of his indefatigable spirit (Harmon says he is the most resilient golfer he has ever met), and a willingness to attack when others (notably Tiger) had gone into a defensive shell.

I do not believe there was a soul there who begrudged Mickelson his triumph. It was pure theatre, and the reward for 20 years of hard labour. It was the fifth time that he had won back-to-back tournaments, and the second time that he had won a major the week after winning a regular tour event. Perhaps the Scottish Open is not such a bad prelude after all? Mr McDowell, please note! The Ulsterman had earlier and most uncharacteristically dissed the Castle Stuart course and questioned the relevance of the tournament as an Open warm-up.

The BBC commentators were in top form at The Open, but no one could match Ken Brown for his colourful similes. He described a ball chasing down the fairway as "running like an Ethiopian chicken". Who knows what an Ethiopian chicken looks like but most people thought it was descriptive and funny, apart from his bosses who adopted a Queen Victoria like stance on the matter. Their lack of amusement would perhaps be better directed at why so little was seen of Mickelson until he had practically won the darn thing. And on that note I am off to the range. Now, where's my driver?