Lefty drops Holmes with plenty to spare

PHIL MICKELSON remains firmly in contention for his first victory since the 2013 British Open after storming into the last 16 of the WGC-Dell Match Play. Mickelson thrashed Ryder Cup teammate JB Holmes 6&5 at Austin Country Club yesterday to join Soren Kjeldsen and Alex Noren in the knockout stages of the £7.8million event. The five-time major winner beat Si Woo Kim 5&3 and Daniel Berger 5&4 in group 14 this week, meaning he has yet to play any of the last three holes. But the 46-year-old has the advantage of having conserved plenty of energy ahead of a possible four more matches, with the last 16 and quarter-finals scheduled for today and the semi-finals and final tomorrow. Meanwhile, Ireland’s top amateur golfers will carry the Under Armour logo on their team colours in 2017 after the Golfing Union of Ireland teed off on a deal with the Baltimore-based sportswear brand. ‘The colours are absolutely fantastic and comfortable. They look good but they’re still mobile,’ said Irish Close champion Alex Gleeson (above) at the Carton House launch. PAUL STIRLING was named player of series in Greater Noida but his efforts were not enough to prevent Afghanistan winning the final one-day international to seal a 3-2 victory. And Ireland’s task in next week’s top of the table Intercontinental Cup clash also got tougher when Kevin O’Brien was ruled out with a recurrence of his hamstring injury. He flies home today with Andrew Balbirnie staying on to take his place in the squad.