When five-time Major winner Phil Mickelson speaks the likes of Simon Thornton, Damien McGrane and Peter Lawrie simply listen and soak-up as much information as they can.

So much so, the information Thornton gleaned from being in Mickelson’s company last week has put him in good stead to be six under par with two rounds to play in the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters in Doha.

Thornton birdied two of his closing three holes in a 68 to be trailing seven strokes behind ‘Desert’ specialist Rafa Cabrera-Bello who also birdied four of his last five holes in a round of 65 to lead by two on 13-under par.

Simon Thornton in action during second round of the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)

Cabrera-Bello again showed his fondness for the trio of ‘Desert Swing’ venues after being runner-up in the Qatar capital in 2011, winning the 2012 Dubai Desert Classic and finishing fourth last week behind compatriot Pablo Larrazabal in Abu Dhabi.

Thornton shares leading Irish honours with Michael Hoey who shot a 70.

Thornton, McGrane and Lawrie, along with three friends, found themselves in the company of Mickelson, Padraig Harrington and Luke Donald last Saturday at a Player’s Bar-b-Que hosted by the St. Regis Hotel at Saadiyat Beach.

“Damien, Peter and myself were joined first by Luke Donald and then Phil was very polite asking if he could also join us, and then introducing himself to everyone,” said Thornton.

“He seems a very nice guy and that’s the image everyone says about him, and much of the time he was on our table there were those asking for autographs and photographs and Phil was as polite as he could be with everyone.

“Padraig (Harrington) later joined us, and while Padraig’s always great to talk to, just sitting there listening to Phil was very rewarding.

“The conversation got around to the course last week in Abu Dhabi and the fairways and Phil made the point that the type of fairways doesn’t matter for him, as he’s going to miss fairways anyway.

“I was a little bit in awe initially but I was just so pleased to listen to what he had to say, and you can only learn from what people like him and Padraig and Luke have to say.

“Phil was also talking about what aspects of his game he was working on in particular and he was just grand with Damien, Peter and myself just happy to listen and soak it all in.

“Already this week I have been drawing on what he said at the Player’s Bar-b-que and so far it’s helped me a lot.”

Unfortunately the conversation didn’t help McGrane (74) and Lawrie (76) who missed the one under par cut off mark with respective level par and 12-over par totals.

Lawrie was later observed on the range working to near darkness with new coach, Jamie Gough, and to be now 27-over par in his five 2013/2014 wraparound events.

In fact, the Dubliner has now missed the cut in 13 of his last 15 events since last June’s Irish Open when he finished T10th.

In contrast, European Ryder Cup captain, Paul McGinley’s long session on the range after his first round saw him shoot a 70 to make the cut right on the mark.

And Shane Lowry was left ruing a 15-foot birdie putt at the last that ‘shaved’ the hole in a round of 68 and a level par total, and for the Esker Hills star to now miss the cut in his first two events of the New Year.