Wearing his yellow winner's jersey

There was a high-speed flyover of the Thames, the river that winds like a vein through London and was the gateway for the city's rise over the centuries as a great global hub of trade and industry.

Headlong rushes of movie images took spectators on wondrous, heart-racing voyages through everything British: a cricket match, the London Tube and the roaring, abundant seas that buffet and protect this island nation.

Opening the ceremony, children popped balloons with each number from 10 to 1, leading a countdown that climaxed with Bradley Wiggins, the newly crowned Tour de France champion.

Wearing his yellow winner's jersey, Wiggins rang a 23-ton Olympic Bell from the same London foundry that made Big Ben and Philadelphia's Liberty Bell. Its thunderous chime was a nod to the British tradition of pealing bells to celebrate the end of war and the crowning of kings and queens, and now for the opening of a 17-day festival of sports - London's record third as host. 

Mickelson played at Greenbrier last year

"What sold it to me was watching it on TV and seeing how players enjoyed it," Woods said unblinkingly.

Um, did he say "sold?"

Mickelson played at Greenbrier last year -- for two days. He missed the cut.

"I know for a fact that Phil got $1 million last year," one top-tier agent insisted, citing a figure that was echoed by two other tour-related sources.

Of course, philosophically, the rest of us are left to wonder whether the chicken or the financial nest egg came first as far as the initial attraction for the player.