SAD as it was to see Lee Westwood come so close and yet once again come up short in his quest for a major, it’s hard not to be thrilled for Phil Mickelson.

One of the nicest men in any sport, Mickelson’s hard luck stories at the Open have run and run until his phenomenal round of 66 on Sunday.

But there is a lesson to be learned for his compatriots after Mickelson became the first American not named after a big cat to win the Open since 2004.

Namely, Mickelson’s victory was a vindication of his preparation. While many Americans apparently find the Open about as much fun as a trip to the dentist, Mick-elson, despite his previously rotten record, fully embraces the grandeur of the Open.

He prepares for the unique challenge of British links golf by competing in the Scottish Open year-on-year, and finally, that strategy has paid off.

Not only that, but Mickelson won back-to-back titles in Scotland in seven days.

Now a winner of five majors with only the US Open missing from his collection (don’t mention Winged Foot), Mickelson’s legacy is certainly secure.

He’s an example to many, but no more so than to his younger compatriots on the USPGA Tour.

- SO much for those who urged caution about England’s prospects of winning the Ashes at a canter.

If the first Test was a nail-biter the second was a massacre and it’s hard to see any way back for the Australians.

But can they at least go down gracefully?

From the sacking of Mickey Arthur, the recriminations that have followed, no end of drama when anyone named Warner has been involved to the exclusion of their most effective bowler in the past 12 months, this once great side are currently something of a circus act.

But I’m not buying people saying it’s a shame if England do go on to win by a wide margin.

For long enough the Ashes were a relative no contest with England the whipping boys, now the shoe is on the other foot.

But some things don’t change.

When England were rubbish in the Ashes it was usually Mark Ramprakash or Graeme Hick’s fault. And the Aussies have found their ‘escape’ goat (sic) as well. His name is DRS.