Troon (United Kingdom) (AFP) – At 46, Phil Mickelson belongs to golf’s old guard compared to the game’s so-called ‘Big Four’ but he is putting them in the shade at Troon this week.
Mickelson’s second-round 69 on Friday left him at 10 under par overall at the halfway stage of the British Open and left the rest of the field, including Dustin Johnson, Jason Day, Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy, playing catch-up.
After his stunning record-equalling first round of 63 on Thursday, Friday’s effort was less spectacular but it was still a demonstration of how to play the game in the rain and the wind.
And Mickelson admitted later that being older and wiser, but also fitter and healthier than he has been in a long time, is allowing him to flourish.
“I understand the age thing but the fact is that from 10 years ago when I was playing my best golf, I’m 25 pounds (11kg) lighter, I’m in better shape, I’m physically stronger than I was, I feel better and I’m starting to play some of my best golf again,” Mickelson said.
“I don’t see why I can’t continue that, not just this week but for years, and that’s kind of what the game plan is.”
Another advantage the American has is that he knows what at takes to win an Open in Scotland, having triumphed at Muirfield in 2013, and is more relaxed as a result.
“I don’t feel the pressure like probably a lot of players do to try to win the Claret Jug because I’ve already won it and that takes a lot of pressure off me,” he said.
“I would love to add to it but having already done it was big.”
The left-hander’s round on Friday featured his first two bogeys of the week, at 12 and at 15, but there were four birdies.
– ‘Bit more sauce’ –
Among those was a two at the short eighth, the Postage Stamp, when his tee shot almost spun in for a hole in one, finishing up just a few feet away.
Having cursed the ‘Golf Gods’ after his birdie putt at 18 on Thursday lipped out to deny him the first ever 62 in a major, he refused to do the same this time.
“No I just needed a little bit more sauce on it,” he joked, but he is hoping that there will be an American winner at Troon on Sunday, just as there has been the last six times the Open has been staged here.
“I think that’s probably due to the Gods and I expect them to be consistent,” he said.
More seriously, when asked about his prospects of winning a second Open and a sixth major this weekend, he added: “It’s a little too far off. We’ve got a lot of work to do.
“We’re only halfway done with the tournament. So it’s too far off to start thinking like that, but certainly there is nothing more that I would love to add than another Claret Jug.”
Mickelson comes from the sun-kissed Californian city of San Diego but his round on Friday proved that he need not fear the Scottish summer weather.
Indeed he may have particularly flourished on a benign Thursday but he coped superbly on a filthy Friday and believes his game is suited to whatever the weather throws his way over the weekend.
“I was actually more worried about yesterday’s round than I was about these coming rounds because I feel very comfortable in the conditions to be able to shoot a number, shoot a good score.
“I was worried about guys going low on the beautiful day and then not keeping pace, so yesterday’s round was a big round for me to ultimately set the pace, and not lose too much ground, because I felt like I’d be best prepared for days like today (Friday).”
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