Phil Mickelson trying to keep his focus on Pinehurst

PINEHURST, N.C. – Phil Mickelson spent five hours in the stifling heat Tuesday at Pinehurst No. 2 with a lot on his mind.

He was trying to sharpen his game, figure out what it will take to finally win a U.S. Open and make enough putts with his claw grip to avoid losing to a pair of players whose combined age is younger than him.

This major has a reputation as the toughest test in golf.

It’s every bit of that for Mickelson.

“I really believe that this week is testing a player’s entire game,” Mickelson said. “Because it forces you to make good decisions, choose the right club off the tee, hit solid iron shots into the green and utilize your short game to save strokes. It’s just a wonderful test … the best test to identify the best player.”

His definition of Pinehurst and its rugged, natural look would seem to require every ounce of concentration. And that could be his biggest challenge.

On the golf course, Mickelson is trying to ignore the enormous expectations on him this week. He holds the worst kind of U.S. Open record with six runner-up finishes. He needs this major to complete the career Grand Slam.

And he’s a sentimental favorite at Pinehurst No. 2, where in 1999 he played the entire week knowing his wife was on the verge of delivering their first child.

Payne Stewart made a 15-foot par putt on the final hole to beat him by one shot. Amanda Mickelson was born the next day. Stewart died in a plane crash four months later.

“Payne and I had this moment where we talked about fatherhood, but he also talked about winning future U.S. Opens,” Mickelson said. “Although I haven’t won one yet, I’m still fighting hard, and this would be a great place to break through and do it.

“I don’t want to put the pressure on that this is the only week that I’ll have a chance,” he said. “I think I’ll have a number of great opportunities in the future years. But this is certainly as good a chance as I’ll have.”