Mickelson Moves Up in Scotland: A Fan’s Take

By Dwight Crisp | Yahoo! Contributor Network

Just when you thought Phil Mickelson was going to miss yet another cut prior to the British Open he comes up with a stellar round. Mickelson came out on day one of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Inverness, Scotland and shot a lackluster 1-over par 73. This put Mickelson in a tie for 123rd position after the first round. In my mind I thought Mickelson would likely miss the cut and have some extra practice time ahead of the Open Championship at Royal Lytham and St Annes that begins on July 19. It also occurred to me that Mickelson wasted his time jumping through hoops in order to get a late invite to the field and play at the Scottish Open.
However, Mickelson had a surprise for me and for others. Round two was a very different day. Phil came out of the gates ready to play and posted an 8-under par 64. Gone were the bogeys and the double bogey from the first round. In their place came only birdies and an eagle as Mickelson carded a clean round. This was Phil Mickelson's best round of competitive golf since the final round of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. You remember, that was the one for which Tiger Woods had a front row seat. That round, also a 64, capped Mickelson's lone PGA Tour victory in 2012. In case you have forgotten, you may read my take on that round here.

This latest round at the Scottish Open could not have come at a more opportune time. Now Mickelson has the opportunity to hang around in Inverness and play the weekend at the Scottish Open to try to fine tune his game for the Open Championship. Golf is a game of confidence and a little confidence would surely help Mickelson. He will be in a position to try to make a run at the leaders as Mickelson will begin the third round five strokes behind Francesco Molinari and Alexander Noren.
Looking ahead to the Open Championship, few expected Mickelson to finish as well in the 2011 Open Championship as he did (he was one of the runners-up to Darren Clarke). Likewise, I do not think very many people expect much from Mickelson in 2012. However, he may yet have a surprise for them as well.