Sweden’s Alex Noren took full advantage of the calmer afternoon conditions to move one shot clear of the field after two rounds of the Scottish Open at Castle Stuart near Inverness.
Noren, who will celebrate his 34th birthday next Tuesday, could be in for an early celebration after birding three of his closing four holes in a bogey-free six under par 66 for an eight under par tally.
The Monaco-based Noren also is no stranger to victory having won four times on the European Tour including last year successfully defending his Nordea Masters crown.
“I really like this golf course as it’s fun to play with a few tricky holes and then a few holes where you can go for the green in two on the par 5s,” he said.
Alex Noren leads by one heading into the third round of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open. (Photo – www.europeantour.com)
“Also I was messing around a bit with my swing at the start, and then all of a sudden I got a better ball strike over the inward nine.
“Mentally, that is always nice and also it helps my preparation for The Open next week as this golf course is a great test.”
New Zealand’s Danny Lee (66) and England’s Eddie Pepperell (67) share second place just a shot back on seven under par.
Lee had been due to compete as defending champion in this week’s PGA Tour Greenbrier Classic but with the tournament cancelled due to the widespread West Virginia flooding that resulted in the death of some 23 people.
And a superb gesture to help in the recovery of the Greenbrier region Lee is donating $US 500 for every birdie and $US1,000 for every eagle he scores at the Scottish Open.
To date, Lee has managed 11 birdies over the two rounds and the assurance of $US5,500 tp the flood relief appeal.
“I love to play golf every week but then making birdies and eagle are very important to me this week, as it’s very unfortunate what happened in West Virginia,” he said.
“I won the Greenbrier Classic last year, and it was my first PGA Tour win, and I was looking forward to defending my title and interacting with a lot of the fans, as the people were very nice to me.
“It’s really unfortunate what happened there, and hopefully I can make a little difference to the lives of the people affected so that’s why I am trying to make as many birdies as possible to a little bit of help.”
The Irish pair of Padraig Harrington and Graeme McDowell, each with 69s, are very well placed at five under par and McDowell clearly benefiting from spending last weekend, and after missing the French Open cut, practicing at Royal Troon.
“Having spent last weekend at Royal Troon was big for me in a lot of levels, and just like that third shot at the last from 99 yards,” said McDowell.
“It was a 9-iron but only 99 yards out and I was working on that very shot at Troon last weekend, and it’s just very hard tuning for that shot as you don’t see that shot very often.”
And former Scottish Open champion Phil Mickelson produced an impressive turnaround in form on day two including holing his second shot at the par four 16th or the seventh hole of his round for an eagle ‘2’ in a score of 69 to get back inside the top-50 at one over par.
The five-time Major winning American began the second round sharing 89th place and looked to be heading for the weekend off at six over in total after six holes and then completed his last dozen holes in five under.
“I was very proud of the way I managed to turn it around especially after dropping two shots early but then I got lucky on 16 to make eagle and that turned it around for me,” he said.
Also assured of four rounds, and also at one over par, are compatriots Steve Stricker (71) and Patrick Reed (70).
