Always the bridesmaid: Phil Mickelson out to shatter his US Open jinx at Oakmont

Phil Mickelson seeks to end 26 years of US Open misery at Oakmont Country Club in the Pittsburgh suburbs this week, while battle is rejoined for golfing supremacy between the new spearheads of the sport – Jason Day, Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy.

No other golfer has endured such heartache at one tournament as Mickelson has at the second of the year’s four majors.

He has finished second a record six times since he first played it in 1990, and having captured the British Open in 2013 to go with his three Masters titles and one PGA Championship, the US Open is all that is stopping him from becoming just the sixth golfer to complete a career grand slam.

To do so though he will have to conquer one of the world’s finest and toughest golf courses in Oakmont.

Opened in 1904, the rugged par-70 layout features 210 bunkers that swallow up balls and aspirations in equal quantities, greens that confound the best of putters and rough so thick that sprained wrists are not uncommon.

On top of that it has the longest par-three in US Open history that can be stretched to 300 yards and the second longest par-five at a mind-boggling 667 yards.