BRITISH OPEN COUNTDOWN:NO, IT'S not easy to feel sorry for Phil Mickelson. After all, he's the world's number two ranked player, has raked up €31 million in prize money, recently acquired a new Gulfstream V jet . . . oh, and is a three-time major winner, even if the Claret Jug has so far evaded his clutches.

Yet, with no Tiger Woods here as the kingpin of golf recuperates from his knee operation, poor Phil was yesterday left to answer as many questions about a certain player's absence rather than his own game. Mickelson, though, refused to accept the bait, instead deflecting any reference and batting it away with the ease of a baseball player at the plate.

Example.

Inquisitor: "No Tiger. People are saying that the majors are being devalued. What's your thought on this? Do you think that it is a slight on the rest of the profession? Or is there an element of truth in it?"

Mickelson: "I am working hard to get my game ready for this week and I've practised hard. I've developed a good game plan for this event, and I am excited to compete against whoever is in the field."

Inquisitor: "I mean, you can't say anything in particular about Tiger?"

Mickelson: "Oh, I'm sure I could . . . but, right now, my focus is, again, this week. I've got my game sharp. Last week I was able to identify some of the areas that needed improvement and, right now, all I care about is getting those areas of strength. Right now, it's short game for me and getting my chipping and putting strong."

In other words, don't mention TW. He's not here. He can't win.

Mickelson may be the world's number two, but he has a poor record on links courses: his best finish in a British Open, and the only time he has featured in the top-10 in 15 appearances, was third at Troon 2004. On his last visit to Birkdale in 1998, he actually recorded his highest round in a major - an 85, in the third round - on the way to finishing 79th.

What's different this time, apart from the fact there is no Tiger, is that Mickelson believes he now knows how to play links golf. Before the Scottish Open last week, he spent three days here familiarising himself with the golf course. More pertinently, he has worked assiduously with Dave Pelz, his short game coach, on the various demands Birkdale presents.

"I've been working with Dave on taking some spin off my short irons, and it's that process that has allowed me to control my trajectory and to control my spin rate on the conditions over here. We developed those shots for Pebble Beach when the greens were wet and spongy, but they're the same shots I use over here. I've felt comfortable playing them here since Troon (in 2004). I had a great year that year and I haven't played to that level the last few years, but I feel more comfortable as each year goes on."

Mickelson hasn't exactly kicked-on from the third-place finish in Troon: he finished tied-60th at St Andrews in 2005, was tied-22nd at Hoylake in 2006 and missed the cut at Carnoustie in 2007.

But one thing is certain: Mickelson has the chance to win here this week; Tiger - at home in Orlando - doesn't.