Golf-Mickelson rues missed opportunities in Tiger's absence

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

LOS ANGELES, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Phil Mickelson regrets wasting a few golden opportunities during his 2008 campaign in the absence of Tiger Woods but is excited about his prospects for next season.

Although the American left-hander failed to take advantage after Woods was sidelined for the second half of the PGA Tour, he believes he is close to regaining his best form.

"We want to look forward," world number three Mickelson said during a conference call to promote this month's Skins Game in Indian Wells, California.

"I look back on '08 and, even though it wasn't what I wanted, there are some positives that I take from it. I try to take that into '09 and add to it.

"It (2008) was a consistent year when I would have liked to have had more victories, but I thought I played week-in and week-out fairly well."

Mickelson won twice in 21 starts on the 2008 PGA Tour while piling up $5,188,875 in earnings but has not claimed a major title since the 2006 U.S. Masters.

Many fans believed he was the best equipped player to take advantage when top-ranked Woods shut down his season to have reconstructive knee surgery after winning the U.S. Open in June.

However, Mickelson tied for 19th and seventh respectively at the British Open and PGA Championship which followed, with Ireland's Padraig Harrington triumphing in both majors.