Mickelson takes one step at a time

First there was Bobby Jones and the “Impregnable Quadrilateral” of 1930. Then came the “Tiger Slam” of 2000-01 when Woods held all four majors at the same time.

Now it is the turn of the “Mickelslam” as Phil Mickelson attempts to win his third major title in a row at Winged Foot.

Victory in this week’s US Open would see Mickelson hold three of the game’s four major titles at the same time, and needing to win the Open at Hoylake to complete his collection.

The world number two, who will be 36 on Friday, won the USPGA at Baltusrol last August and followed it up with his second Masters title at Augusta in April.

But the left-hander, runner-up in 1999, 2002 and 2004, insists he is fully focused on simply winning his first US Open title.

“I’m just trying to win one, I’m not trying to win three,” said Mickelson, who has won three times in his last nine majors starts and recorded four other top-10s.

“I’ve had some success in this event where I’ve come close, losing by a shot or two. I know I can play well in this tournament even though it doesn’t necessarily fit my perception of how I’ve played with the thick rough and so forth.

“I’ve still had success here and all I’m trying to do is be successful on this one golf course at this one event.”

A lack of preparation will certainly not be to blame if he fails to lift the trophy on Sunday, Mickelson having spent, by his own estimation, nine or 10 days playing the course over recent months.

That includes several visits during last week’s Barclays Classic at nearby Westchester, where Mickelson finished 18th.

“I feel as though I know the course as well as I can, but I still have a great challenge. I may know where I want the ball to go, I know how the putts break, but I still have to hit them and that’s the toughest part.”

To that end, Mickelson is likely to abandon his policy of carrying two different drivers – one to fade the ball and one to draw it – which worked so well at Augusta.

But he has had a new 64-degree wedge made to help combat the thick, graduated rough which surrounds the narrow fairways of Winged Foot’s 7,264-yard West Course.

Double US Open champion Ernie Els believes it is a “wonderful test of golf,” but Mickelson warned: “This golf course is set up for pristine conditions; zero wind, 80 degrees and warm.

“And if they don’t get it, this course will be almost unplayable.”

He added: “I had a special driver made that was a little bit shorter but I think I’m going to end up using the fade driver that I used at Augusta. I only expect to use one this week.

“There’s not a great mix of distance off each tee. You can hit driver on basically every hole. I won’t be using a longer driver trying to get distance like Augusta, I’ll be using a driver that hits that controlled cut and keeps it in play.”

While Mickelson is chasing a fourth major title, Woods is attempting to win an 11th, which would take him to second in the all-time list alongside Walter Hagen, though still seven behind Jack Nicklaus.

And despite the world number one’s nine-week lay-off following the death of his father, Earl, Mickelson expects him to be fully focused.

“I would expect him to be 100% because he’s had a lot of time now to work on his game, get sharp and focus in on just this one tournament and not have to worry about others,” said Mickelson.

“I’ve never seen a tournament where he has not been prepared to win, unfortunately. I know how bad he wants to win another major.

“But there are also 155 guys in here that are going to be trying their darnedest to win it themselves.”