The European Tour's attempt to challenge the supremacy of its American equivalent could be boosted by the participation of world No. 2 Phil Mickelson at some point in future.

Mickelson, who previously has played only rarely outside the United States, is thinking of joining the global circuit in the not too distant future, according to sources close to the player. His manager, Steve Loy of Gaylord Sports, has left open the door to the possibility.

"Phil is not considering joining the European Tour at this time, but it is an option in the future, given the global nature of professional golf," Loy said recently.

Mickelson's membership would be a massive boost to the European Tour, which is using its international schedule and some deep-pocketed multi-national sponsors to challenge the once all-dominant PGA Tour.

Mickelson is believed to be considering the move due to several factors, including his sponsorship deal with Barclays Bank, the naming-rights sponsor of the Scottish and Singapore Opens.

The Scottish Open is already a European Tour event, while talks are under way for the Singapore Open, currently a stand-alone Asian Tour event, to become part of the European Tour next year. Mickelson last year played both tournaments and will do so again this year. He also will take part in the HSBC Champions tournament in China, which offers massive appearance money.

If the Singapore Open does join the European Tour, Mickelson would need only to add one more tournament to his schedule to meet the Tour's minimum requirement of 11 events -- he already plays the four majors and three World Golf Championships events, all of which count as official European Tour events.

And the new $10 million season-ending event to be held in Dubai next year, the equivalent of the TOUR Championship, would be the ideal 11th tournament.

One possible hitch is that the European Tour is considering increasing its minimum event requirement to 13 tournaments, which would make it less likely that Mickelson would join.

CHINA SYNDROME: The Royal and Ancient Club plans to use $200,000 of its British Open profits to support the HSBC China Junior Golf Program.

The program was launched last May, attracting more than 1,200 junior golfers to attend seven tournaments and two summer camps, and this year the game is being taken into schools, resulting in more than 70,000 more boys and girls being introduced to golf.

"Helping develop the game of golf in China is one of our key priorities," said Duncan Weir, director of golf development for the R&A. "We're delighted to be a partner in a program such as this."

The R&A contributes more than $8 million to golf development each year, with a high percentage channelled in support of junior golf.

WGC TITLE MEANS MORE: Don't try telling Lee Westwood that The Players Championship is golf's fifth major. For that matter, don't try telling him it is the sixth major or the seventh major.

In a comment that will dismay PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem, Westwood claims he would rather win one of the three annual World Golf Championships events than The Players Championship.

"I think the World Golf Championships have drawn something away from the size of the Players Championship," said Westwood. "They used to say this was one of the strongest fields of the year, but probably not now.

"Given a choice, I'd rather win a World Golf Championships event," he added. "But that's just me, because of the title, I suppose."

Westwood observed that while the world's top 50 players are exempt for the Players Championship, some very good Europeans are shut out.

"We could have a European who finished 51st in the world and eighth on the Order of Merit and wouldn't be in the field this week, so you could argue that the World Golf Championships events are stronger now," he explained.

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