The 2013 British Open was Phil Mickelson's last win on the PGA Tour.  He has been in contention several times since then, but has not been able to finish with a victory.

Mickelson came close last year at Troon when Henrik Stenson's spectacular final round performance bested him for the 2016 British Open title.

"Phil," as fans in the gallery call him, is in contention this week at Muirfeild Village in Dublin, Ohio.  The Memorial, Jack Nicklaus' mastermind of a course, is by many considered the "fifth major." It has been on Mickelson's radar for quite some time.  

He said of a championship here this week that it "would mean a lot more for me than any other regular tournament.First of all, it's Jack's tournament, and second, I've not ever won here. I played here in 1986 in the U.S.Junior, and I've always had an affinity for this golf course.It was always a special place to me.I fell in love with it when I was a junior.I fell in love with it growing up as a kid."

Mickelson continued, saying "It had to be Jack's place.I had never seen a golf course this pristine, this green, this lush, this much water and cool holes.It was my first exposure to a golf course like this.I was 16, lost in the quarterfinals on the last hole.So I've always had kind of an affinity for the golf course.Played in tournaments here, but haven't played well enough to win.''

After scoring a two-under-par 70 in Thursday's opening round, Mickelson is in a great position to finally get the win at "Jack's Place."

PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem (Left) & Phil Mickelson (Right) by Craig ONeal