Mickelson in confident mood

Phil Mickelson claims he is feeling good as he looks to secure a first US Open title and complete golf’s grand slam this week.

The five-time major winner, who celebrates his 45th birthday on Tuesday, heads to Chambers Bay in confident mood after bouncing back from a lacklustre display at the Memorial Tournament by finishing tied for third at the FedEx St Jude Classic.

Mickelson, who has managed six runner-up finishes at the US Open, felt his game improved over the weekend, highlighted by a closing round of 65 in Memphis.

And he is now looking to continue that form in Seattle to join Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods in a unique group of players to have won all four major tournaments.

“I’m very pleased with how I progressed as the tournament went on,” Mickelson told Sky Sports. “I still made mistakes and there are still areas where I’ve got to improve, but I saw a lot of progress as the week went on.

“I’m feeling a lot better about heading in to the US Open this week than I did after the last.”

Mickelson plans some more practice rounds on the course ahead of his early tee-time alongside major winners Bubba Watson and Angel Cabrera on Thursday.

He added: “I’m looking forward to the challenge, I really like the golf course. I feel like I’ve got a pretty good game plan to the holes there and it’s different to each pin.

“The hole changes entirely when you have certain pin placements moving around the bunkers, so I think I have a pretty good game plan and now I feel like my game is coming around.

“Hopefully I can really fine tune and be sharp for when the tournament starts on Thursday.”

Tagged Grand Slam, Phil Mickelson, US Open