By Tony Jimenez
Tue Jan 14, 2014 7:40am EST
Phil Mickelson of the U.S. tees off on the 10th hole during the second round of the WGC-HSBC Champions golf tournament in Shanghai November 1, 2013.
Credit: Reuters/Aly Song
<span id="articleText"><span id="midArticle_start"/> (Reuters) - Phil Mickelson is ready to unleash "a whole different weapon in my arsenal" when he launches his 2014 campaign at the $2.7 million HSBC Abu Dhabi Championship on Thursday.
<span id="midArticle_1"/>The world number five finally got a monkey off his back last year by winning the British Open, golf's oldest major, for the first time at the 20th attempt.
<span id="midArticle_2"/>Mickelson said he would have a new driver in his bag when he accompanies seventh-ranked Rory McIlroy and defending champion Jamie Donaldson of Wales in the first round in Abu Dhabi, the first event of the European Tour's three-week Middle East swing.
<span id="midArticle_3"/>"As I look back on 2013 I played some of my best golf and had some huge breakthroughs but I did most of it without a driver," the American left-hander told reporters on Tuesday.
<span id="midArticle_4"/>"This year I have the best driver I've ever hit that lowers my spin rate just like my three-wood. I drive it longer and straighter with my driver than I did with my three-wood.
<span id="midArticle_5"/>"It's a whole different weapon in my arsenal now and if I drive the ball well, like I have been in practice and in the off-season, heading into this 2014 season it could be the best year of my career for that simple reason."
<span id="midArticle_6"/>The 43-year-old Californian is making only his second appearance at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club, having tied for 37th in 2011.
<span id="midArticle_7"/>"I'm excited to be back, it's a great city and country," said Mickelson. "It's important we start the year with the fundamentals and a good foundation for our golf game.
<span id="midArticle_8"/>WORLD-CLASS COURSE
<span id="midArticle_9"/>"We have got great practice facilities here as well as a golf course that can identify your strengths and your weaknesses.
<span id="midArticle_10"/>"It's a world-class course and in immaculate shape and you can easily identify where you're playing well and where you're not," added Mickelson.
<span id="midArticle_11"/>It was in Abu Dhabi 12 months ago that McIlroy signed his new mega-bucks deal to switch from Titleist to Nike and promptly missed the cut in his debut outing with his new equipment.
<span id="midArticle_12"/>It would prove a sign of things to come for the Northern Irishman who endured a traumatic year on and off the course before finally scooping his first tournament win of 2013 at the Australian Open in December.
<span id="midArticle_13"/>"I feel I'm much better prepared heading into the first event of the season than I was last year," said McIlroy.
<span id="midArticle_14"/>"My swing is in a much better place. I've done some really good work on that at the end of last year and in the couple of weeks I've had here leading into this tournament.
<span id="midArticle_15"/>"Things are really looking good," added the 24-year-old McIlroy. "I'm in a really good frame of mind and I feel like I've built a lot of momentum at the back end of last year and I'm going to try to continue that into this season."
<span id="midArticle_16"/>(Editing by Justin Palmer)
<span id="midArticle_17"/>
Tue Jan 14, 2014 7:40am EST
Credit: Reuters/Aly Song
<span id="articleText"><span id="midArticle_start"/> (Reuters) - Phil Mickelson is ready to unleash "a whole different weapon in my arsenal" when he launches his 2014 campaign at the $2.7 million HSBC Abu Dhabi Championship on Thursday.
<span id="midArticle_1"/>The world number five finally got a monkey off his back last year by winning the British Open, golf's oldest major, for the first time at the 20th attempt.
<span id="midArticle_2"/>Mickelson said he would have a new driver in his bag when he accompanies seventh-ranked Rory McIlroy and defending champion Jamie Donaldson of Wales in the first round in Abu Dhabi, the first event of the European Tour's three-week Middle East swing.
<span id="midArticle_3"/>"As I look back on 2013 I played some of my best golf and had some huge breakthroughs but I did most of it without a driver," the American left-hander told reporters on Tuesday.
<span id="midArticle_4"/>"This year I have the best driver I've ever hit that lowers my spin rate just like my three-wood. I drive it longer and straighter with my driver than I did with my three-wood.
<span id="midArticle_5"/>"It's a whole different weapon in my arsenal now and if I drive the ball well, like I have been in practice and in the off-season, heading into this 2014 season it could be the best year of my career for that simple reason."
<span id="midArticle_6"/>The 43-year-old Californian is making only his second appearance at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club, having tied for 37th in 2011.
<span id="midArticle_7"/>"I'm excited to be back, it's a great city and country," said Mickelson. "It's important we start the year with the fundamentals and a good foundation for our golf game.
<span id="midArticle_8"/>WORLD-CLASS COURSE
<span id="midArticle_9"/>"We have got great practice facilities here as well as a golf course that can identify your strengths and your weaknesses.
<span id="midArticle_10"/>"It's a world-class course and in immaculate shape and you can easily identify where you're playing well and where you're not," added Mickelson.
<span id="midArticle_11"/>It was in Abu Dhabi 12 months ago that McIlroy signed his new mega-bucks deal to switch from Titleist to Nike and promptly missed the cut in his debut outing with his new equipment.
<span id="midArticle_12"/>It would prove a sign of things to come for the Northern Irishman who endured a traumatic year on and off the course before finally scooping his first tournament win of 2013 at the Australian Open in December.
<span id="midArticle_13"/>"I feel I'm much better prepared heading into the first event of the season than I was last year," said McIlroy.
<span id="midArticle_14"/>"My swing is in a much better place. I've done some really good work on that at the end of last year and in the couple of weeks I've had here leading into this tournament.
<span id="midArticle_15"/>"Things are really looking good," added the 24-year-old McIlroy. "I'm in a really good frame of mind and I feel like I've built a lot of momentum at the back end of last year and I'm going to try to continue that into this season."
<span id="midArticle_16"/>(Editing by Justin Palmer)
<span id="midArticle_17"/>
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