Mickelson just misses out on playoff place

American Phil Mickelson blamed a shortage of birdies for his failure to follow victory in the U.S. Masters and second place in the U.S. Open with a win in the British Open on Sunday.

Although Mickelson holed a bunker shot for eagle on the long fourth that took him into a share of the lead and rolled in putts of 10 and 15 feet to save pars on the ninth and 10th to stay on top, his birdie count was only two.

One of those was cancelled by a bogey on the 13th, his first dropped shot in 50 holes, that eventually cost him a chance to make the playoff, won by American outsider Todd Hamilton ahead of South Africa's Ernie Els.

"I thought if I could get to the top of the leaderboard or tied, with nine holes to go, I could make nine pars then," Mickelson said.

"It was a very difficult cross-wind to get the ball close to the holes. I was just playing for pars and thought shooting even par was going to be good enough.

"The guys behind me (Hamilton and Els) were making birdies and I wasn't. To miss out by a shot is certainly disappointing."

Mickelson said, though, he had enjoyed his share of luck.

"I got fortunate on nine and 10 to make pars, I certainly had my breaks," he said. "I had a great break yesterday when I hit a guy on the leg when I thought I was out of bounds.

"I've had my good fortune. It wasn't that that hurt me, it was just not enough birdies."

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