American Phil Mickelson has long been one of golf's greatest players, a four-time major championship winner and a titlist in 39 PGA Tour events.
But one major championship which has always eluded Mickelson, and, frankly, made him look bad, has been the British Open.
Mickelson's best finish at the Open Championship is third place, but that was in 2004. Since then, Mickelson's best finish has been 19th place, in 2008, and even in one of his most accomplished seasons, 2010, Mickelson bombed at the major.
Last year, despite winning the Master's and finishing in fourth place at the U.S. Open, Mickelson finished in 48th place at the British Open.
When you review Mickelson's career, the Open Championship is where he squirms, and where it appears he wants no part of a major championships at Royal St. George's.
And Mickelson is certainly not getting any younger. People forget, Mickelson was 34 years old before he won his first major championship, a true late bloomer. And although he won the Master's last season, he was 40 years old at the time. Now he's 41 years old, and he's running out of chances to slay the monster that is the Open Championship.
But unless Mickelson rebounds tremendously in 2011, don't expect him to win the British Open this year. He was the favorite at the Master's this year, and he finished in 27th place. At the U.S. Open, he saw Rory McIlroy establish himself as the year's up-and-comer, while he languished and finished in 54th place.
It doesn't help matters that Mickelson will be battling reported 30 mph winds on Thursday. Yes, that's right, just when it couldn't get worse for the American at Royal St. George's, it does.
Mickelson is the No. 6 golfer in the world according to the rankings, but he hasn't played like it.
How can we expect him to win his personal nightmare?
Let's put it this way: if Mickelson wins the 2011 Open Championship, it will be his greatest and most improbable major win ever.
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