Phil Mickelson (14/1 in Betfred’s outright winner market) admits the Open Championship is a tournament he really wants to win and feels he now has the game to allow him to lift the Claret Jug.

The world number two, who is playing at this week’s Scottish Open, will go to St Andrews next week looking to win the Open at the 19th time of asking.

Mickelson’s best result came in 2004, when he finished second at Royal Troon, but the left-hander feels his game and technique has moved on since then.

The four-time major winner revealed: “Taking the spin of the ball has been a big factor for me. Since 2004 that has been a big thing and I feel now that I should be contending.

“Every time since then I go into the event and feel I have a chance of winning.”

Mickelson (13/8f to top PGA Tour money list w/o Woods) admits that has struggled on the links greens in the past, but feels that if he can get that right then he “has a chance”.