Lefty out to set Open record straight

Last updated: 12th July 2010

A four-time major winner, Phil Mickelson is one of the greats of the modern game - but his record at the Open would not tell you that.

American heads to St Andrews with hopes of contending

Phil Mickelson is one of the modern-day golfing greats. But, if you looked only at how he has played in The Open, you would never know it.

While Mickelson has now won three Masters green jackets, one USPGA title and has finished in the top four seven times at the US Open, something seems to happen when he crosses the Atlantic.

In 16 appearances at the sport's oldest major he has managed just one top-10 finish.

That was at Royal Troon in 2004. After finishing first at Augusta and second in the US Open at Shinnecock Hills Mickelson was only a single shot away from joining Todd Hamilton and Ernie Els in a play-off.

But after that his next best effort was at St Andrews a decade ago, although in 11th place he was 12 strokes behind runaway winner Tiger Woods.

Mickelson missed last year's championship after his wife and mother were both diagnosed with breast cancer, but he is back now and having triumphed in The Masters in April and coming fourth at the US Open last month, the left-hander knows he might never have a better chance to get his hands on the Claret Jug.

Short-game coach Dave Pelz certainly thinks it could be different this time.

"I was told early in his career he hit the ball so high that he did not have a very good chance in so many Open Championships when the wind is blowing," said Pelz on a visit to London.

Worked hard to change

"He did not have a wind game, but we've worked on that quite hard over the last seven years and I think he's prepared to play in the wind.

"I also think he's a much better player now when the heat is on and you're down to the last nine holes. I think he can bring it home now in a much more consistent fashion than in years past."

On the specific demands of the Old Course, Pelz added: "I think he can play the golf course.

"He does need to stay out of the sand. Off the tees you can't see the bunkers, but you have to know where they are and you have to have very accurate control of your golf ball.

"I think that may be one of the challenges that Phil will face this year, but his bad swings aren't nearly as bad as they used to be.

Better chance than ever before

"I do think he has a better chance than he's ever had before at St Andrews - and I know he loves it."

One thing definitely in Mickelson's favour is that in the past year he has had the better of Woods.

He out-scored him when they went head-to-head in the final round of the Masters last year and had victories with Woods in the field at the Tour Championship in Atlanta, HSBC Champions event in Shanghai and then back at Augusta three months ago.

They finished level at Pebble Beach and while disappointed that he could not quite break his US Open duck again there Mickelson comes to the Home of Golf determined to show that the force is with him.