Phil Mickelson misses final practice

U.S. Ryder Cup fans were again denied the chance to see world number four Phil Mickelson in practice on Thursday, 24 hours before golf's most intense team event gets under way at Oakland Hills.

Mickelson had been given permission to skip practice on Wednesday but American captain Hal Sutton gave no suggestion that the U.S. Masters champion would also be absent the following day.

All 11 of his team mates practised again, though, as did the entire European side.

Inevitably, there were rumours around the course that Mickelson was injured but press spokesmen were as much in the dark as everyone else.

Left-hander Mickelson has been in the form of his life in 2004, finally ending his major drought at Augusta in April and contending in all four of golf's grand slam events.

Meanwhile, holders Europe gave another large clue over their opening foursomes pairings when captain Bernhard Langer kept the same combinations.

If he follows those, Padraig Harrington will partner Colin Montgomerie, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Darren Clarke will play together, and Luke Donald will join forces with Paul Casey.

The other practice pairings were Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia, Paul McGinley and Thomas Levet and rookies Ian Poulter and David Howell.