Mickelson: 'I'll be as ready as I can be'

OAKMONT, Pa. — Phil Mickelson said his recovery from an injured left wrist has been slower and more painful than he expected, but he'll do his best to complete four rounds of the U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club.

Mickelson wore a black sleeve around his wrist as he sat for a press conference after working for 20-30 minutes on the driving range and playing nine holes on Tuesday. It was the first time he'd hit shots on the course since he arrived Saturday.

[Mickelson was quietly hitting shots on the range on Wednesday. Click here to read Josh Sanburn's report.]

He said it's unlikely he'll be able to play the tournament pain-free, as he'd hoped, and he said he's even felt pain in his right wrist, which he was overusing to compensate for the injury. He's been icing both wrists, and he's even avoiding signing autographs (he signs right-handed), which conveys the seriousness of the situation for the Tour's most prolific autograph dispenser.

"I would probably like to have one more week before we started this event," Mickelson said, "but I'll be as ready as I can be on Thursday."

He added in jest that he'd floated to the U.S.G.A. the idea of bumping the tournament back, to no avail.

Mickelson, a favorite to win the Open two weeks ago before he pulled up lame in the first round of the Memorial, said he'd twice tried to play since the injury, stopping both times because of pain. Once was at home in Southern California last Tuesday; once was with his new coach Butch Harmon in Las Vegas last Friday.

Two doctors gave him the same diagnosis, inflammation, and he's taken a cortisone shot, which he said seemed to be working. Still, he's limited his early work at Oakmont mostly to chipping and putting. He hit full shots on the driving range for about a half hour Monday, and he has been receiving treatment from the energy healer Jim Weathers. The two are doing energy work and even "light therapy" to "stimulate cell activity" in the affected area, Mickelson said.