British Open hasn’t been Phil Mickelson’s cup of tea

Reporting from Sandwich, England — The record shows that Phil Mickelson has played in 17 British Opens, with one top-10 finish.

In Mickelson’s eyes, though, this week is his first experience.

“I’m trying to pretend like it’s my first time here,” he said, “and appreciate playing the ball on the ground on [windy] days like this and appreciate being able to play some through the air when the wind is a little bit calmer.”

The British Open has long been considered Mickelson’s toughest major because it negates the strength of his game — a short game largely built on soft-dropping wedges that stop quickly or spin back into birdie range.

But that can be a liability in links golf, which often calls for low shots that stay under the wind and might run 50 yards along the ground. Mickelson’s only top-10 performance came in 2004 at Royal Troon, where he placed third.

“I enjoy being rewarded for hitting a precise shot and having the ball end up close to the hole if you hit it really well,” he said. “But I’m really coming to enjoy and appreciate the challenge that links golf provides.

“I’m going in with an open mind on some of the new ideas to play the course. Hopefully I’ll play it effectively.”

Replacement talk

It was just two years ago that Tom Watson nearly won the British Open on an artificial hip, drawing on experience at age 59 to take the lead to Turnberry’s final hole of regulation.

That was a hip replacement, though. And when the topic of Tiger Woods’ knee woes came up Tuesday, Watson wasn’t as certain whether a new joint would help Woods.

“With a hip, you put a new one in and here we go,” Watson said. “The knee takes a lot of stress — it’s out there on its lonesome and it rotates. Whether he’s ever going to have total knee replacement, who knows?”

Woods isn’t at Royal St. George’s this week, missing his second consecutive major as he works to recover from a sprained left knee and Achilles’ tendon.

Knee replacement isn’t part of the current discussion. Woods has stated several times that his doctors haven’t brought up surgery of any sort.

“The most important thing for him is to get well,” Watson said, “so he’ll be able to put the force on it that he needs to execute the golf swing. Can it be put back in shape? That’s the question; that’s the concern.”

Blown away

With temperatures in the low 60s and winds gusting as high as 35 mph, Tuesday was a good day for entrants to keep things light.

Several cut short their practice rounds or skipped them altogether in an effort to keep from getting too worn out. The practice range, facing directly into the teeth of the wind, was deserted by midday.

“It was interesting to see a drive on [No.] 17 go 380 yards and a drive on 11 go 210,” Mickelson said.

jshain@orlandosentinel.com