PITTSFORD, N.Y. — Until a few weeks ago, Phil Mickelson’s trophy room lacked a Claret Jug, but one thing he never has lacked is confidence.
His first British Open victory last month at Muirfield, a win he called the most significant of his career, has done more than add to Mickelson’s collection of trophies, it has vaulted his confidence into a stratosphere perhaps he never had reached.
Mickelson and coach Butch Harmon said they believe that confidence could lead to a second consecutive major championship by the time this week’s PGA Championship at Oak Hill is complete.
“Something really special could happen here this week if I continue to play this way,’’ Mickelson told The Post in an exclusive interview after his practice round yesterday. “I didn’t know how emotional that British Open win was going to be for me. I feel different about myself. I look at myself differently as a player because of that win. It’s really meant a lot to me, because it’s by far the greatest challenge I’ve had to face and the greatest accomplishment I’ve ever had in my career.
“I think had I won another Green Jacket that would not have done the same thing for me as what winning the Claret Jug has done, because in my mind it is an accomplishment in my career that makes me a more complete player.’’
Mickelson, who has five major wins on his resume, said he’s playing the best golf of his life.
“I feel like I’m starting to really play well,’’ he said. “It wasn’t like it was out of nowhere I won the British Open. I won the week before at the Scottish [Open], I finished second at the Memphis. I’m starting to really play well and I can feel it, I can sense it.’’
Harmon spoke as confidently as Mickelson did, telling The Post during his prized pupil’s practice round, “At 43, he will tell you he’s playing better golf than he’s ever played. He drives the ball well, his quality of shots are better, he’s putting beautifully, which helps his confidence.’’
The biggest thing that has helped Mickelson’s confidence is that 3-wood he famously used to seize the British, when he reached the par-5 17th at Muirfield in two in the climactic final round. Mickelson said yesterday that, as at the British Open, he does not plan to keep a driver in his bag this week.
Harmon and Mickelson said they believe he can put similar strategic principles together at Oak Hill, beginning with getting that 3-wood into the fairway.
“It feels easy to keep the ball in play,’’ Mickelson said. “I’ve never had that before. It’s always been work for me to keep the ball in play.’’
Mickelson estimates he hits the 3-wood about 20 to 25 yards
shorter than the driver.
“But,” he said, “my fairways hit are a huge percentage higher.’’
That makes it easier for him to attack flags on approach shots, even if he’s a club longer in, because he’s not dealing with the adversity of a bad lie in the rough.
“I’ve been putting better than I have in years,’’ Mickelson said. “A lot is due to the fact that I have a number of putting greens in my yard, and I go out at night and putt and putt and putt. Ben Hogan used to say the ‘secret’s in the dirt.’ I think the secret is getting on the greens and just putting. You figure out your own stroke, you understand your own stroke.’’
Two years ago Mickelson built a massive practice facility on 22 acres in his backyard in Southern California, which he credits for his recent success. He has a huge driving range, a short-game facility, five greens with different grasses on them.
“It’s really made practicing so much fun,’’ he said.
Nothing, though, has been as fun for Mickelson as waking up every morning and staring at the Claret Jug on his night stand. It has not left his side since he won it. He and some good friends drank cabernet out of it last week in Akron, Ohio, during Bridgestone. It is here with him this week.
“I just love looking at it,’’ he said. “I love the fact that I’m part of that … that my name is on there.’’
mark.cannizzaro@nypost.com