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Pain free Mickelson aiming high

Phil Mickelson is swinging with freedom © Getty Images

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Phil Mickelson has edged closer to Tiger Woods in the race for world No. 1 and the left hander emerged from the US PGA Championship to insist he is now pain free.

Mickelson has been playing with a form of arthritis but a course of treatment has eased the problem to the extent he can play and train without any pain.

The world No. 1 spot is proving tough to obtain for Mickelson but he is approaching the FedEx play-offs with a spring in his step after a closing 67 for a top-12 finish.

"I feel great," Mickelson said when asked about his health. "After just over two weeks of treatment I feel great. I don't feel like there's anything wrong right now. I've been fortunate so far, I just hope that it - I still react as well as I have to the meds.

"After I started treatment not only have I been able to play as much golf as I want in the last ten days but I've also been able to work out and get my strength back and flexibility and so I feel terrific. I've responded quickly. The doctor said it would take two to eight weeks to get a response and it's been just over two weeks and I feel a 100%. I feel great.

"I feel like nothing's wrong right now. I feel normal. It's gone, I don't want to say it's gone away but all the symptoms have gone away and I feel great."

Commenting on the No. 1 spot, Mickelson said: "If I just can get playing well, yeah, I think that I can get that thing done. But it just wasn't to be this week."

US PGA winner Martin Kaymer was the big mover in the world rankings, with the German leaping to No. 5 in the world. Rory McIlroy finished in a tie for third at Whistling Straits and he is now up up No. 7.

World Rankings: 1. Tiger Woods (USA), 2. Phil Mickelson (USA), 3. Lee Westwood (Eng), 4. Steve Stricker (USA), 5. Martin Kaymer (GER), 6. Jim Furyk (USA), 7. Rory McIlroy (NI), 8. Ernie Els (RSA), 9. Paul Casey (Eng), 10. Luke Donald (Eng), 11. Ian Poulter (Eng), 12. Hunter Mahan (USA), 13. Graeme McDowell (NI),14. Anthony Kim (USA), 15. Zach Johnson (USA), 16. Retief Goosen (RSA), 17. Robert Allenby (Aus), 18. Padraig Harrington (IRE), 19. Louis Oosthuizen (RSA), 20. Sean O'Hair (USA)

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