Mickelson tweaks game ahead of Singapore Open
SINGAPORE (AP) -- Phil Mickelson brought a special putter and got extra advice from his coach as he prepared to take on a "difficult" course at the $5 million Singapore Open starting Thursday.
Mickelson, whose world ranking dropped from No. 2 to No. 3 this week, said he needed a refresher course with famed swing coach Butch Harmon before battling the course at Sentosa Golf Club, located on an island off the Singapore coast.
"I was just on the phone with him before we got here, just making little tweaks because driving the ball here in Sentosa is a real test," Mickelson said. "There are tight fairways, a lot of water, a lot of penalties for poorly struck shots."
Mickelson was overtaken for the No. 2 ranking by Sergio Garcia when the Spaniard won the HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai on Monday.
As a first step in his efforts to retake the ranking behind Tiger Woods, Mickelson will use a new putter as he takes on a field that includes the likes of Ernie Els, Padraig Harrington, Adam Scott and K.J. Choi competing for the tournament's $792,500 top prize.
"I brought a putter with a little bit more loft," Mickelson said. "The greens are very difficult and grainy. That will be the biggest challenge."
Argentina's Angel Cabrera is the defending champion of the Asian Tour event, while Australia's Scott won the tournament in 2005 and 2006 -- the first two years of the re-launched event after a three-year hiatus.
Players said the course would be less challenging if the rain of the last few days continues during the tournament.
"Hopefully, we won't get too much rain so we can play a fairly firm golf course, which will make it a really good test," Scott said "If it rains a lot, it's going to be easier. The softer a golf course plays, the easier it is."
Scott, long regarded as one of the best players not to have won a major, was counting on recollections of his good past performances in Singapore to spur a turnaround in an interrupted and unfulfilling year.
"I'm certainly looking to turn my game around a little bit, and it's good to have the positive feelings," Scott said. "My goal is to win this week."
Harrington, who won the British Open and PGA Championship double this year, will round off his impressive 2008 in Singapore.
"I am very focused on trying to get one last win for the year," Harrington said.
"Get one last win for the year is what I am focused on, just to put the icing on the cake for my Christmas."
Golf has been without its biggest star Woods since he had knee surgery after winning his 14th Major at the U.S. Open in June. Woods is not expected to return to action until the Masters in April.
Mickelson believes the sport has missed Woods' star power.
"The reason why we all want Tiger back is because he drives the game of golf, he drives the television ratings, the sponsors need him in their events and the fans turn up to see him," Mickelson. "We need him back as soon as possible."
South African Els was eager to make up for his poor showing in the event last year.
"I played really nicely in 2006 but lost out in a playoff to Adam Scott, and then last year, I had a horrible couple of days and missed the cut, although, to be fair, I was suffering from sickness in the first round," the three-time major winner said.
"I've played quite a few tournaments in Asia and, believe me, this is the best."
The event's big purse and line-up of most of golf's best performers -- which includes 18 of the top 20 on the Asian Tour money list as well as the big-name visitors -- amazed Korea's Choi, who remembered the sport's humble beginnings in Asia.
"I never really imagined something like this would happen, that a $5 million tournament would be held in Asia," Choi said. "It's a big step forward."
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