Phil Mickelson, one of the biggest high profile golf players on the circuit, missed the British Open cut today.  

Mickelson hit out of a bunker on the sixth hole during the first round of the golf championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes in northern England. Defending champion Darren Clarke and a host of other high-profile players also missed the British Open cut made at three over par today.

Clarke shot a respectable one-over 71 to finish on seven-over 147 while Mickelson, a four-times major champion, slumped to a dismal 78 for 151 to continue his poor record in the tournament.

After the loss, Mickelson told news reporters, "I don't know what to say right now. It felt like every hole we played was into the wind."

Second-ranked Rory McIlroy and two time Open champion Padraig Harrington made it through on 142, according to Reuters.

Six other former Open champions from the United States failed to make the weekend in addition to Mickelson and Clarke.Tom Lehman, Justin Leonard, Todd Hamilton, Ben Curtis, Stewart Cink and David Duval who won the last one held at Lytham in 2001, all missed out.

They were joined by former world number one Martin Kaymer, double major winner Angel Cabrera, 1985 Open champion Sandy Lyle and United States Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III.

Former major champions Yang Yong-eun of South Korea, South Africans Charl Schwartzel and Trevor Immelman and American Lucas Glover also missed out.

The Open Championship (British Open) began Thursday, July 19, 2012, and ends Sunday, July 22, 2012.

Tags: Phil Mickelson Open Championship