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Tiger faces a hard road back - Mickelson

Tiger Woods will not play at next week's Open Championship © Getty Images

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Phil Mickelson is adamant that Tiger Woods will once again sit at the summit of world golf - but not for a little while yet.

Woods is without a tournament win in nearly two years, and has slumped to No. 17 in the world rankings, below the likes of KJ Choi and Ian Poulter.

After aggravating a sprained knee and strained Achilles tendon in his left leg at the Players Championship in May, Woods has been forced to miss next week's Open Championship at Royal St George's - and there is no date specified for his return.

But Mickelson has advised Woods to stay out of the game for as long as necessary. "When you play golf at the level he's played it, you just don't forget," Mickelson said. "He's going to get back to a level that is close to where he was at, if not where he was at.

"But it won't happen until he's healthy, I just don't see how it's possible until he's fully healthy. Waiting however long it takes is going to be a real plus in the long run, and ultimately I believe he'll get back to where he was at."

Mickelson, who will play at the Scottish Open this week, feels he will never fully realise his potential unless he gets his hands on the Open Championship. Although the American is a four-time major winner, he has never looked particularly comfortable on the punishing links courses.

"I enjoy the challenge of links golf. I've not performed to the level I have week-in and week-out in the States and I want to change that. I'm planning on doing that! I always play high through the air and to be able to play along the ground, keep the ball under control, drive it well through cross-winds, I've kind of embraced those challenges these last couple of years.

"I feel if I can overcome this obstacle and compete and win in this style of golf I'll become a complete player. I think there's only six players [actually just five - Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Woods] that have won the career Grand Slam. I look at those players in a different light. I think that would be a great goal for me."

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