Phil Mickelson ... seeking to redeem an ordinary year. - File

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Michigan (AP):

PHIL MICKELSON already had crossed the finish line the last time he showed up at Oakland Hills.

Now, he can only hope he is hitting his stride.

Mickelson is the betting favourite at the PGA Championship, which starts today, his last chance to win a major in a year that has been filled with disappointment at the biggest events.

Knocked out

There was a 75 in the third round of the Masters that knocked him out of contention. There were no drivers in his bag at the United States Open for two rounds. And he lost a ball at Royal Birkdale on his way to a 79 in the first round, a major that ended before he could settle in for a cup of tea.

Not that this year has been a disaster by any means.

"This is a big week," Mickelson said. "Because right now, my season, with just two wins, is just OK. But if I were able to come through on Sunday and win this event, it would make an OK year a great one."

It also might erase some sour memories of Oakland Hills.

Mickelson first met 'The Monster' in 1996 and endured his worst finish in a US Open over four rounds. He tied for 94th that week, 19 shots out of the lead. Even more forgettable was his last trip to Oakland Hills for the Ryder Cup in 2004.

He already was under more scrutiny than usual for switching from Titleist to Callaway a week before the Ryder Cup. Then he went two days away from his teammates, taking one day off and spending another day working on the adjacent North Course. US captain Hal Sutton paired him with Tiger Woods, and while neither played well in both their losses, Lefty caught the brunt of the blame.

Sutton then benched him, saying Mickelson would be a cheerleader instead of a player.

It was a ragged finish to what had otherwise been a brilliant year for Mickelson, who won his first major at the Masters, was second at the US Open, missed a playoff at the British Open by one shot and was two shots out of a playoff at the PGA Championship.