Mickelson unhappy with Trump, Rory a 'leprechaun'

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Phil not thrilled with Trump

Phil Mickelson slammed Donald Trump for his controversial comments about Mexicans and said the businessman had created an “awkward situation” for professional golf.

“I think we were all disappointed to hear his comments,” the left-hander said. “It puts everybody in an awkward situation because we don't agree with those comments, but yet we are appreciative of what he's done to help promote the game of golf, and that puts everybody in a tough spot.”

Swing sequence: Phil Mickelson

In his presidential campaign speech, Trump said: “When Mexico sends its people, they're not sending their best. They're not sending you.

“They're sending people that have lots of problems, and they're bringing those problems with us. They're bringing drugs. They're bringing crime. They're rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.”

The PGA of America has since taken the Grand Slam of Golf away from Trump National and LPGA officials have also said they would prefer this month’s Women’s British Open not be played at Turnberry, another of Trump’s courses. 

McIlroy blasted by Fox news

Fox news reporter Lisa Montgomery has stood by her comments in which she branded Rory McIlroy a “leprechaun”.

The American television host said her animosity towards the world number one stemmed from his break-up with tennis ace Caroline Wozniacki.

"Yesterday at this time I used the word leprechaun to describe golfer Rory McIlroy. I love sports, I love golf, but I am not a fan of Rory’s,” Montgomery said.

"Mostly for the way he treated tennis great Caroline Wozniacki and discarded her like a piece of chewed gum when he broke her heart and broke off their engagement in a short phone conversation.”

McIlroy was the topic of conversation for pulling out of the Open because of an injured ankle. 

Mickelson 'no comment' on gambling allegations

Phil Mickelson refused to comment on allegations he was involved in illegal sports betting, saying he is used to being an “object to be discussed”.

ESPN reported Mickelson transferred $2.7m to a former sports gambling handicapper, who pleaded guilty to laundering money.

"The fact is, I'm comfortable enough with who I am as a person that I don't feel I need to comment on every little report that comes out," Mickelson said.

"People are going to say things good, they are going to say things bad. They are going to say things true, they are going to say things not true."

The left-hander plays the Scottish Open at Gullane this week, an event he won in 2013.

Visa issues may force Clark to miss Open

South African Tim Clark may be forced to miss the Open at St Andrews because he cannot get a visa.

The two-time PGA Tour winner, who received an invitation to golf’s oldest major, said the UK is the “hardest place to go” since the country tightened its laws on travel.

"Most places I need a visa, but they make it extremely difficult and I don't know why,” said Clark. "The disappointing thing for me is that I tried to start this process six weeks ago and (the R&A) wouldn't send me a letter.

“I've emailed back and forth with them and told them, 'I'm stuck right now. I can't come unless there's something you can do right now.' I even contacted the Tour to see if there was something they could do, because in my mind there has to be a way where they can get something expressed or a waiver or something, but nothing has come about. So I just can't go."

South Africans applying for a UK visa have to go through biometric screenings, and must have a statement of purpose for the visit.