Enjoying links golf is one thing, adapting and excelling at it appears to be another, if Phil Mickelson’s Open record is anything to go by.
The four-time major champion has only really contended in one Open, the 2004 version at Royal Troon, when he finished a shot out of the play-off won by Todd Hamilton over Ernie Els.
So poor is his record, he’s ready to write it all off.
Mickelson said, “I’m entering this year kind of like a fresh start.
“I’m not going to worry about past performances I’m going to learn and enjoy the challenge of playing links golf, pretend it’s my first time here and try to appreciate being able to play though the air.
“Past performances haven’t been what I expected but I feel excited and kind of re-invigorated to come over here and try to learn this style of golf and play it effectively.”
But for missing Turnberry in 2009 due to his wife Amy’s illness, he has played every year since his debut as an amateur in 1991, so it seems a bit late to be starting anew and he admitted that the initial results have not been that good.’Subtleties'”I played terrible,” he said. “I busted a driver at the short 11th (243 yards) and was short, I had a drive on 17 go 380 yards.
“One thing that’s held me back over the years is the fescue greens, but I had a good putting week last week and I’m pretty confident about that aspect.”
Mickelson’s high ball flight is generally identified as an area where he struggles and he insists that he has developed a draw which he can use to penetrate the wind.
He said, “I’m looking forward to playing more along the ground.
“I think the set-up this week is better than 2003 as it allows the nuances and subtleties of the course to come out more.”
Mickelson always does a disarming line in self-deprecation.
He said, “I can’t comment on Luke Donald’s form because we haven’t played together much recently.
“He’s usually in the last groups and I’m not, and I usually only see him in the car park.”