Golf-Mickelson to reduce schedule to aid grand slam bid

By Angie Teo KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 23 (Reuters) - British Open champion Phil Mickelson will begin scaling back his tournament commitments next year in a bid to win an elusive U.S. Open title and complete a rare career grand slam, the American said on Wednesday. Crowd-favourite Mickelson, 43, has won five major championships in a brilliant career but has suffered a heart-wrenching six runner-up finishes at the U.S. Open - the missing piece in his grand slam puzzle. The big-hitting left hander completed the third leg of his slam bid in July when the hard work he put into improving his driving accuracy paid off with a first British Open title at Muirfield. Success at next year's U.S. Open at Pinehurst in North Carolina would make Mickelson the sixth man to win all four majors and emulate the achievements of South African Gary Player and compatriots Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Gene Sarazen and current world number one Tiger Woods. "There is no hiding the fact that winning the U.S. Open would be my career goal and completing the career grand slam," Mickelson told reporters in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday on the eve of the PGA Tour's CIMB Classic in Malaysia. "That is the final leg that I have and I'll be putting most of my focus into winning the U.S. Open." That extreme focus on the majors, mean other less significant events will be sacrificed. Mickelson has played at least 20 PGA Tour events in each of his last four seasons, while Woods, the winner of 14 majors, played only 16 this year - one of his more active campaigns. The world number three did not pinpoint which events he would be cutting for the 2014 season, which began at the Frys.com Open in California two weeks ago, but suggested the CIMB Classic might be one. SYMBOLIC PINEHURST "I want to give myself opportunities to play and compete in the big tournaments, mainly saying, the majors and I'm putting less importance on other events," said the three-times winner of the U.S. Masters. "My whole purpose and focus will be... participating in certain tournaments that will help me play well in those majors, so a tournament that is taking place two months prior or after a major championship that has no impact on my ability to perform well in a major, those are tournaments that I won't put as much importance on. "I just don't know how it is going to play out right now. I know that I am going to start cutting a certain percentage of events next year and I'm not sure which ones those will be." A U.S. Open triumph at Pinehurst would also be symbolic as it was the venue of one of Mickelson's most memorable near misses, beaten by Payne Stewart on the final hole with the victor famously embracing the lefthander after sinking the winning putt. Mickelson, the winner of 42 PGA Tour titles, said his game was in a strong place to claim victory. "This past year I have had some wonderful things happen to me that have helped me play some of my best golf," said the 2005 U.S. PGA Championship winner. "Whether its driving the ball off the tee or getting the ball in play so I can compete well in the U.S. or British Opens. "I have had a phenomenal putting year and am starting to drive the ball better than I ever have and I'm excited about the upcoming years. I'm started to play some really good golf again and I love to compete." (Writing by Patrick Johnston; Editing by John O'Brien)