With golf US Open looming, Mickelson headlines Colonial

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FORT WORTH, Texas (AFP) - Phil Mickelson headlines the field at Colonial country club this week, but the world No. 2 is already thinking about the US Open looming in three weeks' time.

Mickelson predicted that Torrey Pines, the San Diego area course that will host the Open June 12-15, will provide a tough, but fair, test.

"I think it's going to be a great championship, because the course is so hard as it is, and with its length and with difficult pin placements, you really don't need to do too much to it to make par a good score," Mickelson said.

Mickelson has put in plenty of rounds this year at Torrey Pines, which is not far from his California home.

"I probably play it once every other week when I'm in town," he said. "I get out there and get comfortable with the greens, take notes, make sure those notes are correct and so forth. But as the rough changes, as the fairways change and they shave certain areas or let certain areas go, it also affects how you play certain holes."

While Mickelson is well into his rigorous preparation for the US Open, the second major championship remains three weeks away.

Of more immediate concern is the Colonial event, now dubbed the Crowne Plaza Invitational, where Mickelson returns after a two year absence.

The field also includes defending champion Rory Sabbatini of South Africa and the man he beat in a playoff, world No.5 Jim Furyk.

In 2007, Sabbatini fittingly made his playoff winning birdie putt in a downpour at an event that was halted the first three days by showers, forcing the entire field to finish the third round on Sunday morning before fighting to an early evening conclusion.

Other top 10 players in the field include Steve Stricker, South Korean KJ Choi and Australian Geoff Ogilvy.

World No.1 Tiger Woods is not entered. Not a regular at the event, Woods is also still recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery.

Woods finished second to South Africa's Trevor Immelman at last month's Masters and then had the procedure.

Woods said last week that his rehabilitation was going well and that he was hoping to play in the Memorial, which opens a week from Thursday, as a tuneup for the US Open.

"My gearing up for the Open started last week, hitting shots with the intention of performing well at the Open," Mickelson said. "And I think Tiger is the same, given that he is out with a knee injury.

"I think there is a good chance that we both may be playing our best come that week."