Mickelson can't wait for next year at St. Andrews

Don't get Phil Mickelson wrong. He's disappointed about coming up short in The Open Championship on Sunday, but he's also very encouraged. After having never finished in the top 10 in the Open, his third-place finish at Royal Troon has him believing he's come to grips with links golf and salivating for another chance to win on the famed Old Course in 2005.

TROON, Scotland (PA) -- Phil Mickelson is already looking forward to next year's Open Championship, even after narrowly missing out on the playoff between Todd Hamilton and Ernie Els Sunday at Royal Troon.

Mickelson held the outright lead for the first time all week Sunday afternoon when Hamilton bogeyed the 10th hole of the final round. But the Masters champion then dropped his first shot in 50 holes on the 13th, and despite a birdie on the 16th was unable to catch Hamilton and Els.

It means the left-hander has now finished first, second and third in this year's three major championships.

"I didn't feel like it was a lost chance," said Mickelson. "I felt I played very well and thought if I could get to the top of the leaderboard or tied with nine to go I could make nine pars on the back nine.

"I couldn't see that many birdies out there. What Todd and Ernie did is really incredible," he added. "It's a very difficult crosswind, and to get the ball close to the holes the way they did to get birdies is very impressive.

"I was just playing for pars and thought shooting even par was going to be good enough," he said. "I shot 3-under, I played solid. The guys behind me were making the birdies and I wasn't."

Mickelson was seven shots off the lead after an opening 73, and rounds of 66, 68 and 68 saw him come up just short. It was still easily his best finish in 12 Open appearances, surpassing his previous best of an 11th-place tie at St. Andrews in 2000.

"To miss out by a shot is certainly disappointing," he added. "I felt after the first day it would take a lot to get into contention and I played three very good rounds, making only one bogey, and I was very proud of that.

"I love this tournament, I just haven't played well in the past," he said. "I feel like I've been working hard on the shots that are required over here, I feel I executed them well.

"I'm looking forward to next year at St Andrews. I love that golf course. It's a wonderful test of golf," he added. "It's a little disappointing to fall short here but it's also very encouraging to know that I'm able to contend in this great championship."

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