But fellow American Matt Kuchar was not so fortunate, the world number six pulling out after suffering back spasms as he warmed up on the range. Dustin Johnson has already declared himself unavailable for Watson’s team to deal with “personal challenges”, while defending US PGA champion Jason Dufner is struggling with two bulging discs in his neck.

Kuchar, who has already sealed his place on the Ryder Cup team for Gleneagles, was replaced in the draw by first reserve John Huh, who teed off at 9:05am alongside major champions Louis Oosthuizen and Justin Rose.

English duo Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter, both currently outside the automatic Ryder Cup qualifying places, were part of a six-strong group sharing the early lead on two under par, with Harrington one under, Mickelson level and Woods one over par.

Mickelson’s opening drive on the par-five 10th was so far left of the fairway that he feared it had gone out of bounds and hit a provisional ball, but the left-hander found it up against a fence and was able to eventually scramble a par.

Woods narrowly missed from 20 feet there for birdie but failed to get up and down from just off the green on the 11th and had to save par from 20 yards short of the 12th after badly mis-hitting his approach.

Mickelson had also dropped a shot on the 11th despite a typical recovery shot from way below the level of the green, but the five-time major winner and Harrington both birdied the 12th.