Mickelson talks a big game

US TOUR: Phil Mickelson hopes to become the PGA Tour's first double champion this season and give himself a boost ahead of the Masters when he tees off in the BellSouth Classic in Duluth, Georgia, today.

Mickelson, winner of the Bob Hope Classic in January, has an excellent record in the $3.8 million event and starts among the favourites to collect the $684,000 winner's cheque at Sugarloaf.

The left-hander won the BellSouth in 2000, finished third last year and seventh in 1999.

Mickelson, ranked second in the world, is currently 10th on the PGA moneylist and needs a commanding performance before next week's Masters, where he will be hoping to secure his maiden major title.

He will be up against two-time BellSouth winner and defending champion Scott McCarron, the in-form Chris DiMarco, Houston Open champion Vijay Singh and a rejuvenated Fred Couples.

With Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley resting this week, Padraig Harrington will be the only Irish player at the tournament. Colin Montgomerie, Lee Westwood and Thomas Bjorn will also lead the European challenge.

Tiger Woods, so often Mickelson's nemesis, is missing this week, but already Mickelson has thrown a few curveballs in his rival's direction.

"He's the best player in the world, but I'm not going to back down from him," Mickelson told the Los Angeles Times.

"I see these other guys wilt, and it's just unbelievable to me that they haven't been able to play their best when he's in contention."

Earlier in the week, he perhaps tempted fate when he said: "I think I'm one of the few guys who can stare Tiger down at the business end of a tournament."

Many will see these comments as Mickelson's way of gaining some psychological parity with Woods, even though his record against the world number one has led to question marks over his temperament.

Mickelson desperately wants a major title and his performance this week will serve as a strong indicator of form before he leaves for Augusta National.

DiMarco has been one of the most consistent players on the PGA Tour this season and currently lies eighth on the moneylist.

So far this year the 34-year-old from Huntingdon, New York, has won the Phoenix Open, secured a further three top-10 finishes and made every cut from his 10 starts.

DiMarco is one of seven first-time winners this year - a high number so early in the season - and his recent run has seen him break into the world's top 10.