USA Ryder Cup player Dustin Johnson explains why he does not want to be paired with Phil Mickelson for next week's Ryder Cup USA Ryder Cup player Dustin Johnson explains why he does not want to be paired with Phil Mickelson for next week's Ryder Cup

Dustin Johnson says he is a good friend of Phil Mickelson, but admits he does not wish to partner the 46-year-old during the Ryder Cup.

Johnson often plays practice rounds with Mickelson but is hoping this year's American captain Davis Love III keeps them apart at the Hazeltine event, live on Sky Sports.

Mickelson (left) and Johnson enjoy a practice round together at Augusta National earlier this year

Johnson partnered Mickelson for the first two games on his Ryder Cup debut in 2010, both of which ended in 3&2 defeats.

Speaking ahead of this week's Tour Championship at East Lake in Georgia, Johnson said: "I think I can partner pretty well with anyone, except for Phil. Me and Phil don't partner well together.

"We play well against each other. I love Phil and we're great friends but we have a lot more fun when we're playing against each other than when we're partners."

Since that terrible debut at Celtic Manor six years ago, Johnson's Ryder Cup record has improved considerably.

He has won four of his other five games and, going into the 2016 match, enjoys a 57 per cent success rate.

Mickelson, who made his debut in 1995, has a 46 per cent success rate in the competition (W-16, H-6, L-19).

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