GOLF fans who had won a lunch date with world number two Phil Mickelson made an unexpected flying visit to Royal Birkdale this week.

The competition winners gathered from across Europe at the Loch Lomond Golf Club, near Glasgow, where they expected to see the American star practising ahead of this week’s Scottish Open.

But Mickelson had accepted a last-minute invitation to play a round at Royal Birkdale before the Open Championship starts there next Thursday.

On hearing of the mix-up, the golf pro dispatched his 14-seater Gulfstream jet from John Lennon Airport to Glasgow and shuttled the fans to Merseyside.

After the 39-minute flight, they were whisked to the Southport course where Mickelson posed for pictures and gave an impromptu chipping clinic.

The 10 winners had won a coaching session and lunch with Mickelson after entering a competition run by golf manufacturer Callaway.

The group – along with Mickelson, his caddy Jim McCann and short-game coaching specialist Dave Pelz – then decamped to Southport’s new five-star Vincent hotel for lunch.

Callaway Golf’s European managing director Neil Howie said: “The surprise trip on Phil’s private jet made a special day even more memorable for our winners. Phil did an outstanding job entertaining his guests.

“If they were wondering what it’s like to live the jet-set life of a tour pro, they have a pretty good idea.”

Mickelson teed off at Loch Lomond yesterday and will head back to Birkdale on Sunday.