Mickelson ready for Open challenge

The left-handed American, who ended a 14-year wait for a first major victory with a one-shot triumph at the Masters in April, has done his homework and believes he now has the variety of shots needed in links course golf.

"My record here at the British Open has never been the best, or something that I've been proud of," the 34-year-old told a news conference on Tuesday.

"But I am really looking forward to playing at Troon. It's a wonderful course and I've been working hard to hit the shots, or to learn how to play the shots effectively, to suit this golf course.

"It's something that I probably should have done in the past but didn't really know how to prepare the best for. I think I am a little bit more prepared for this week."

Mickelson, whose best British Open finish in 11 attempts was a share of 11th at St Andrews in 2000, has played three practice rounds at Troon since last Wednesday. He has decided not to play another until Thursday's opening round.

"I feel like I have a pretty good game plan and a pretty good idea of how I want to play Troon," said the Californian, who is set to tee off in the first round at 0731 GMT with Japan's Shigeki Maruyama and Briton Paul Casey.

"But I don't want to overdo it. I just want to try to be fresh and ready, rather then being over-prepared."

Following his breakthrough victory at the Masters, Mickelson finished second behind winner Retief Goosen in last month's U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills.

His success in contending at both majors is reward, he believes, for the hard work he has done with his swing instructor Rick Smith and short game guru Dave Pelz.

"I have much better direction on how to prepare for a tournament, with the help of Rick Smith and Dave Pelz -- on shots to hit, how to hit them, how to play a golf course, how to study a golf course," he said.

World number one Tiger Woods has described Troon's outward nine as "probably the easiest nine holes you'll ever play in a major championship" and its homeward nine, which play into the prevailing wind, as the hardest.

With this in mind, Mickelson says he will be employing two different styles of play at this week's Open.

"Downwind (on the front nine), I'm going to be having full swings, taking some of the release and roll out of it," he said.

"The backside are the holes that I really anticipate hitting lower shots and letting them run on."

Mickelson has vivid memories of Royal Troon from 1997, when the Ayrshire layout last staged the Open.

"I remember liking this golf course very much," said the American, who tied for 24th that year. "I remember Thursday's round coming home in such a difficult wind I couldn't reach three or four of the par fours. It was so challenging.

"I would love to see it play that challenging again. It was a lot of fun to try to make pars on such a tough test."

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