Mickelson's Open hopes in ruins

Phil Mickelson's British Open hopes lay in tatters for another year here Saturday after his five-iron let him down on holes 16 and 17.

The 40-year-old Californian was full of optimism coming into St. Andrews, where he also had a chance of taking the world number one spot from Tiger Woods.

But he failed to get much going in the first two rounds and was badly in need of a low- to mid-60s score in Saturday's third round to get him back in contention.

He was going along reasonably well at four-under par after 15 holes but a double bogey at 16 followed by a bogey at 17, virtually put an end to his chances even though he finished well with a birdie at the last for a round of 70 and a two-under total.

"I'm disappointed in myself because I let a good round slide," he said.

"I let a good opportunity slide to get back into the tournament somewhat to where a good round tomorrow could maybe get it done, and I let it go and I'm disappointed in myself."

Mickelson said that the culprit in his bag had been the five-iron which he used off the tee on 16 and only managed to hook it out of bounds.

The same club proved to be his undoing at the 17th, the notorious Road Hole.

With leader Louis Oosthuizen at 11 under through five holes, and more than 20 players between himself and the lead, Mickelson's chances were all but gone, although he refused to rule himself out.

"You never know what's going to happen out here," this year's Masters winner said.

"You never know what the weather is going to do. I'm going to get off quite a bit before the leaders, and you go out and shoot 7-, 8-, 9-under par, do what Rory (McIlroy) did, you just never know.

"You never want to count yourself out because you don't know what the conditions will be."