BBC SPORT | Golf | Mickelson battles pain at US Open

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Last Updated: Thursday, 14 June 2007, 06:49 GMT 07:49 UK

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Mickelson battles pain at US Open

Mickelson wears a wrist brace during practice at Oakmont

Phil Mickelson says he is still suffering the effects of his wrist injury as he prepares for the US Open at Oakmont, which starts on Thursday.

The world number two damaged his wrist during a marathon practice session at Oakmont last month.

"I probably won't be pain-free as I had hoped but I should be able to have it manageable as long as I don't aggravate it in the rough," he said.

"I am looking forward to playing, I should be able to play no problem."

The injury forced Mickelson to withdraw from the Memorial after 11 holes as well as the St Jude Championship in Memphis last week.

The three-time major champion has had a cortisone injection to try to deal with the inflammation.

But Monday was the first day Mickelson was able to hit balls this week and he has played just nine holes in the last two days.

"I've got a really good game plan mapped out for the tournament," he said.

"I'm just not sure if I'm going to be ready to implement it because I haven't had the normal practice and preparation that I would have going into a major.

Phil Mickelson
Mickelson reacts after throwing away victory at the 2006 US Open

"I'm still looking forward to being able to play and hopefully implement or put together the game plan that I had hoped.

"If it was not the US Open, I'd probably wait one more week. I'd really like one more week before we started this event but I'll be as ready as I can be."

Mickelson is aiming to win his first US Open after finishing joint runner-up in 2006 and second in 1999, 2002 and 2004.

Last year at Winged Foot, the left-hander was a hole away from US Open victory but a double-bogey at the last handed the championship to Geoff Ogilvy.

"I don't ever want to put it totally behind me," Mickelson said. "If I just forget about it, I'm not taking advantage of the opportunity to take some weaknesses and turn them into strengths."

After a disappointing tie for 24th at the Masters, Mickelson decided to try and fix his wayward driver with swing guru Butch Harmon.

He has since tied for third at the Byron Nelson and Wachovia Championship and followed that up with an impressive victory at the Players Championship.