Mickelson gearing up for Open tilt

Phil Mickelson, effectively world number one with Tiger Woods likely to be sidelined by injury for the rest of the season, goes into this week's Scottish Open with two targets in mind.

The American left-hander wants to make up for losing last year's play-off to Frenchman Gregory Havret on the banks of Loch Lomond and is also keen to make sure his game is in top shape for the British Open which follows at Royal Birkdale.

'Next week is in everybody's mind but part of getting ready is performing well this week, playing well and hitting shots sharply and crisply,' the 38-year-old Mickelson told reporters today.

'I have also really enjoyed playing this tournament the last few years. I came so close to winning last year and I am hoping to improve on that this time.'

Mickelson said he had already laid the foundations for his British Open title challenge.

'I arrived on Sunday morning at Birkdale and I spent three days over there,' the world number two told reporters.

'Getting my course work done for the British Open allows me to work on my game and not have to worry about course set-up and what clubs I am going to use and how I will attack the course. I have got that decided now so I can work on execution.'

The British Open is traditionally played on a links course open to the elements, with wind variations often the key to good scoring.

Mickelson, winner of the 2004 and 2006 US Masters and the 2005 US PGA champion, said he felt it had only been in recent times that he worked out how to make the most of his abilities in the wind.

'Throughout my career I have not been as effective in the wind as I would like to be,' he said. 'About four years ago I learned how to hit shots lower and take spin off it.

'That's when I started to play better in the wind. I played better at Troon that year and missed the playoff by a shot.

'That was my best performance at the British Open and I am hoping to improve on that even more.'

Mickelson was asked how he felt about Woods's absence from the last two major championships of the season, the British Open and the US PGA Championship.

'If you look at (Jack) Nicklaus's 18 majors or Tom Watson's eight majors, I don't look back at the field they played, I just look back at the tournaments they have won,' said the American.

'I haven't won a major in a couple of years and it would mean a lot to me to win the Open, as well as the PGA.'

Elsewhere, Bob Charles, the 1963 Open champion, will become the first New Zealander to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in November.

'After 50 years of competitive golf around the world,  I am proud to be joining my peers in recognition of my life in golf,' said the 72-year-old left-hander.