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The BBC TV highlights programme on Sunday evening was watched by 1.5m, a considerably higher number than the audience of 1.1m who had watched the live coverage of the final round on Sky Sports during the Sunday  afternoon. These figures compare with 4.7m who watched the final round from St Andrews in 2015 (played on a Monday) and 5.5m who watched Rory McIlroy triumph at Royal Liverpool in 2014, both, of course, broadcast free-to-air by the BBC.

The viewing numbers are down but the quality of the golf played by Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson was inspiring and is already being described as classic, recalling the ‘duel in the sun’ played by Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus at Turnberry in 1977. In fact Nicklaus has written on Facebook, “Our round was really good, but this was better.” Few would argue with Jack!

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https://soundcloud.com/user-92058548/henrik-stenson-open-2016-winning-press-conference

He talks a bit like a hippy and his distinctive hair which earned him the nickname Beef is something unique. Andrew Johnston could only be an Aquarian. His embracing of the golfing public, and them of him has been a breath of fresh air. It is so genuine and natural and never cultivated for show. When asked about this new popularity he answered “I love it man. I just want them to enjoy it all and leave saying “what a great day I’ve had. That’s what it’s all about, giving back”.

He’s also absolutely brilliant on television, a natural performer. Hope we see more of him on TV.

I once asked Phil Mickelson how he had applied his psychology studies to his job as a professional golfer. He graduated from Arizona State University with a psychology degree. He replied that the key element was using visualisation.

During the beautiful first round that he played at Royal Troon on Thursday before almost every shot he appeared to be taking his time to see the ball fly and its run. He played some exquisite shots, but also scrambled and scored brilliantly. However I was a bit disappointed to hear during his press conference that he didnt seem to appreciate the wonder of that 63  because he wanted the elusive, never before achieved in a major 62. Indeed the strength of his emotion about this was revealing. “I could shed a tear, I want to cry, I wanted my own little piece of history. It’s heartbreaking”.

While this shows the level of intensity that he plays with, the burning desire, his reply to the next question was again surprising. “What had caused the putt on the 18th green to lip out?”

“It should have gone in” he said “reason it didnt is the curse”

Really? Had he perhaps read my article about fate (see November 2015). Did he believe in the golfing gods, in fate? he was asked.

“I didnt before” Mickelson replied “but I do now”

Well, interesting that that’s what he’s thinking about as he approaches the final round. Indeed with him identifying in last night’s rather terse TV interview that he was struggling with his rhythm even though the swing was on plane and he needed to get back out onto the range to work something out with coach Andrew Getson indicated that he had a lot buzzing around in his mind. He was also tetchy during the second and third rounds telling a cameraman to “get out of my personal space” and an expletive was heard when the gallery didnt get out of the way in time.

If anyone can cope with a busy mind it is Mickelson, who enjoys mental stimulation so much that he and caddie Bones talk incessently through a round and have debates and stewards enquiries about many shots, because he thrives on the drama.

But last night he did look mentally exhausted after drawing on all of his creativity and ingenuity to street fight his way round the course. Today, if the rhythm of his swing has been found on the range, I believe he will come out with a calmer, quieter mind, and the championship will be his for the taking. But if not, Henrik Stenson will prove difficult for him to play alongside. Stenson can be a cold and hard competitor, brilliantly so, which is why he is held in such high esteem in Europe. He is a match for any American. Just one thing he said in interview seemed to be his detriment, that he wasn’t thinking about the outcome. I believe he should be thinking about it now, and visualising lifting the claret jug. It’s what Nick Faldo used to do. Visualise his name at the top of the scoreboard, his winning press comfernce, the drop of the winning putt, the scenes on the final green – and he sent that out into the universe. Stenson should be doing this too. He has the mental strength to win, he just needs to send out those good vibrations.

For those not in the know Pokemon Go is a smartphone game played by an app that has quickly become a global phenomenon. Virtual characters appear through the app and are caught and collected by confronting and capturing them.

For those in the know journalists have been going around Royal Troon this week and collecting the icons.

Ghastly and Magnemite were found outside the Marine Hotel, Magikarp and Rattata were found in the galleries. Goldeen was lurking by the 17 green and Artucuno by the Railway Hole. Best capture, above, was the rare bird Moltres who was flying above the Postage Stamp short 8th hole.

Well it was a long day. There’s only so much golf you can watch.

So I am looking at a map of Leicester to find out the location of a music festival. And suddenly the town of Thurmaston catches my eye. Their town planners are completely golf mad.

Not only is there a Troon Way and a Gleneagles Avenue but a Trevino Drive, a Jacklin Drive, Nicklaus Road, Nagle Grove, Thomson Close, Coles Close, Huggett Close and Faldo Close.

So if Australians and Americans get a road, where is the Ballesteros Road, Watson Way, Woods Avenue?

Come on Leicester City Council, you need more golf roads.

Less than two weeks before the club hosts the 145th Open Championship the members of Royal Troon have “overwhelmingly” voted in favour of admitting women.

The vote took place on Friday evening even though the issue had not been due to be resolved until later in the year.

Club captain Martin Cheyne said:

“I am delighted with the decision taken by members of Royal Troon and look forward to welcoming women to our great club.

We have said a number of times it is important for golf clubs to reflect the society in which we exist and the modern world that looks at them. It is the right decision for the club today and for the generations of golfers that will follow”.

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Sounds like a masterstroke.

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The Open Championship

It’s usually a woman’s prerogative to change her mind but now the members of Muirfield have been having second thoughts. After a postal ballot in which 64% of 95 members voted in favour of women members being introduced and 34% voted against, the motion failed to pass because a two thirds majority was not achieved. The Committee of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers are going back to the membership at a Special General Meeting to ask for a second vote before the end of the year.

A bizarre kind of democracy this is. Keep on voting until you get it right. Perhaps we should follow suit here in the UK and have another go at getting it right about our membership of the EU.

“A substantial majority of our members voted for change and many have voiced their disappointment with the ballot result and with subsequent events,” said club captain Henry Fairweather.

“The Club Committee believes that a clear and decisive vote in favour of admitting women as members is required to enable us to begin the task of restoring the reputation of the Club that has been damaged by the earlier ballot outcome”.

A spokesman for the PGA European Tour has explained how the UK vote to leave the European Union will impact on the European Tour. He says that the Tour are in the process of examining the implications but made  an important distinction.

The  United Kingdom is a geographical part of Europe (even if it will not be connected to it economically or politically). It is on this basis that the European Ryder Cup team is decided. The UK is geographically linked to the continent and the flag under which the players will play is a broad symbol of Europe as a whole.