Phil comes second

VALHALLA. — Phil Mickelson has secured a 10th successive Ryder Cup golf appearance after finishing second at the US PGA Championship on Sunday.
Mickelson’s qualification had been in doubt, but his points at Valhalla give him one of nine automatic places in the US team for next month’s event.The 44-year-old finished one shot behind winner Rory McIlroy.

“This is just a little glimpse of what I feel I can do and I’ll see if I can work on it some more,” Mickelson said.

The fourth major of the season at Valhalla was the final tournament to count towards qualification for the US Ryder Cup side.

Mickelson, the 2013 Open champion, had not finished in the top 10 at a Tour event since January — and was 10th on the US qualification list going into the tournament on Thursday.

But chasing his sixth major, he held a share of the lead going into the closing holes in Kentucky before McIlroy came through to win.

“It was fun to get back back in the mix and feel the pressure,” said Mickelson, whose nine Ryder Cup appearances are a US record. “I just ran out of steam after 12 holes.” — BBC Sport .