Phil Mickelson heads to this week’s British Open in the best form possible ending a 20-year European winless drought with a playoff victory in the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Castle Stuart.
Mickelson, and the highest world ranked player in the field, captured his 50th pro career, success after defeating South African Branden Grace with a birdie at the first extra play-off hole.
Both players had ended regulation play tied at 17-under par with Grace posting a 69 and finding his way into the play-off when Mickelson horribly three-putting the last hole for bogey in a round of 68.
Phil Mickelson birdies first extra hole to win 2013 Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open. (Photo – Stuart Adams/www.golftourimages.com)
However Mickelson then brilliantly played one of his trademark wedge shots landing his 45-yard third shot a few feet past the hole before the ball spun back to some six inches from the cup for the easiest of birdies while Grace missed his birdie putt from 25-feet.
Mickelson had lost the event in a play-off six years ago at Loch Lomond and has finally captured the event in his ninth Scottish Open appearance.
“I’ve been coming to Scotland now for quite some time and I’ve enjoyed my stay every year and while I’ve had some opportunities before and I almost let it slide away today,” he said.
“So to come out on top feels terrific and this Castle Stuart golf course is just wonderful and I’ve had so much fun here the last three years, so to win means a lot to me.
“I was so mad at myself for losing my focus and three-putting the last hole in regulation play so I went back to the 18th hole for the play-off pretty focussed to make a four.”
Mickelson, who collected a first prize cheque for $US 742,800 (Euro 580,000), now will firm as a favourite at Thursday’s starting 142nd British Open championship at Muirfield to the east of Edinburgh.
The American was third in the 2004 British Open at Royal Troon and joint runner-up two years ago at Royal St. George’s.
“This week has been very valuable for next week as I did a lot of things well and I also there is a few things I still need to work on,” he said.
“But then today was a great day for us to have this type of windy weather as the first three days were very benign and it didn’t have the teeth this golf course can have on a day like today.
“So I am anticipating this kind of weather next week at Muirfield, and if we have it today was very important for me getting ready.
Danish rookie J B Hansen and Sweden’s Henrik Stenson both shot 71s to share third place on 15-under par.
Hansen dropped four shots with a quadruple bogey at the second hole and then raced into a share of the lead with seven birdies over his next eight holes.
After three years at the Castle Stuart course in Inverness the tournament is moving in 2014 for just one year east to Aberdeen and Royal Aberdeen that hosted the 2011 Walker Cup
