PREVIEW: Woods trusts new putter and Mickelson Faldo at Open

Jul 14, 2010, 10:34 GMT

St Andrews, Scotland - Tiger Woods is changing his putter for the first time in more than a decade for the British Open while the other hot contender Phil Mickelson is relying on the wisdom of a three-time winner.

Mickelson practiced with England's Sir Nick Faldo as he finally aims to come lucky in his 17th attempt at the Open.

He came third at the 2004 edition held at Royal Troon while the last Open at The Old Course saw him in 60th place in 2005.

Boosted by a third Masters title in April and fourth place at the US Open in June, the left-handed Californian Mickelson is now aiming to do better at the 139th Open.

Mickelson, 40, practiced with Faldo on Tuesday. Faldo won three Masters as well, but also has three British Open crowns including the 1990 triumph at St Andrews.

'I asked him a bunch of questions. Nick has a lot of great thoughts on St Andrews, on avoiding bunkers and what allowed him to win and be so dominant ... He played some of the best golf you've ever seen there,' said Mickelson.

The oldest and arguably most famous gold course in the world, and one of the most challenging as well, should suit his game though, Mickelson said.

'There's no question this one best suits my game because there's so much more room off the tee than other Open venues. I don't feel restrained on the tee at all. I feel like there's plenty of room to hit it, and it's more of a second shot golf course,' he said.

Woods, for his part, has won the last two St Andrews editions for three overall British Open titles, in 2000 and 2005. But the 14-times winner at the majors is yet to succeed at the top stage since his personal problems from last year, finishing fourth at the Masters and US Open earlier in the year.

Woods, 34, did not want to dwell on his life in Tuesday's news conference ahead of the 28th edition of the Open at the famed course on the Scottish east coast.

'It doesn't impact on it at all. I'm here to play the Old Course at St Andrews, the home of golf, it's as good as it gets. I would like to win no matter what,' he said.

Woods said the course was in spectacular shape but that all players would have to deal with the weather which is forecast not to be so good.

Looking at his new putter, Woods did not make too much of the change after 11 years.

'I have always been tempted to change my putter on slower greens. I have always struggled when greens are really slow. I always feel more comfortable when the greens get quick,' he said.

'This putter does come off faster. It rolls the ball better and rolls it faster so I've had to make very little adjustment in how hard I'm hitting it compared to if I had my older putter.'

Woods tees off at 9.09 local time (08:09 GMT) on Thursday in a flight with South African Justin Rose, a two-time winner on the US PGA Tour recently, and the 2008 PGA Tour Championship winner Camilo Villegas of Colombia.

Mickelson starts his quest more than five hours later with local hero Colin Montgomerie, the 2005 runner-up to Woods. Their flight also includes two-time US Open champion Retief Goosen of South Africa.

Not to be counted out among others until Sunday are US Open champion Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland and world number three Englishman Lee Westwood.