Mickelson excited by Birkdale's creativity factor

By Tony Jimenez

SOUTHPORT (Reuters) - Phil Mickelson may not have the best of records in the British Open but the world number two always gets excited by the level of skill and imagination demanded by links golf.

"The fact it's different from what we play day in, day out in the United States makes it something I relish," the American left-hander told reporters on Tuesday.

"Variety makes links golf so exciting because there are so many different ways to play the shots. You have to be creative and let the feel of the shot come out."

Mickelson, who has only once finished in the top-10 since making his British Open debut at Royal Birkdale in 1991, said the traditional home of golf always came to mind when he thought of links courses.

"The best example I see when I play links golf is the 18th at St Andrews with the Valley of Sin," he added. "I see a lot of guys play it a lot of different ways and that's what links golf offers, a lot of options.

"A lot of guys get down in that valley and chip it out so they don't have to putt up the slope. I see some guys bump it into that hillside with spin, I see a lot of guys putt it and I see a lot of bump and run shots."

BOX OF TRICKS

Mickelson is renowned for the box of tricks he can conjure from his magical short-game repertoire but he believes good strategy is just as important as skill around the greens.

"We talk about angles but in America on a lot of our courses it doesn't matter," the triple major champion said. "Here you've got to plan for 20 to 50 yards of roll so angles are critical.

"I think you want to have good decision-making. With the wind blowing as strong as it is today, short game is going to be a critical element in this tournament."

While Mickelson is desperate to improve his Open record, he was keen to stress this week at Birkdale was just one element of his battle plan for the next three months, especially with world number one Tiger Woods sidelined by injury.

"I think there is a tremendous opportunity for guys to finish the year strong," he said. "Over this next 11, 12-week stretch I plan on playing a lot of golf.

"I've got some things going on next week back home before I play again at the World Golf Championship (event in Akron, Ohio at the end of July) and the U.S PGA Championship.

"Then we've got the FedExCup series and the Ryder Cup so I've got a lot of golf coming."

(Editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes)