Mickelson magic lights up Scottish Open
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THERE was no champagne for Peter Whiteford, but plenty fizz about his second round 65 at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open.
Whiteford missed out on a prize of 168 bottles of bubbly for his hole-in-one at Castle Stuart’s 11 hole because Londoner Andrew Johnston aced it the day before to claim the champers.
“I’ll have a word; maybe he can give me a couple,” Peter joked, after finishing as the highest Scot on the leaderboard after Round 2. “It’s an eagle, so it’s the total I’m looking for.
“It was a lovely shot. If it didn’t go in, it was probably going to be pretty stiff anyway. Great way to start the day and thankfully it carried on from there.”
Whiteford added six birdies to his impressive round to move to eight under, just four behind joint leaders, Francesco Molinari and Alexander Noren.
The 31-year-old also made a big impression at last year’s Scottish Open, grabbing a share of the lead after two rounds before fading in his third and final 18 holes to finish well down the field.
That experience, he feels, can help him to play a more consistent tournament this year and ultimately make a stronger challenge.
“Last year was last year,” he said. “Obviously I didn’t finish it off but it’s experience.
“Every time you get up there, it’s always experience. Hopefully I can carry on tomorrow and have a good four rounds instead of just two.”
Only three players shot lower than Whiteford on the day. One was three-time US Masters champion Phil Mickelson, whose flawless 64 was a remarkable return to form for the American ace.
And if Whiteford’s hole in one at 11 was shot of the day, Mickelson’s sublime wedge for an eagle 2 at his the first hole – the 10 – was surely the next best.
“I backed up an L-wedge into the hole, and it was a nice way to start the round,” Phil said. “What I really needed to do was keep that momentum throughout the 18 holes, not make the big mistake, make a few birdies here or there and that’s kind of what happened today.”
Mickelson also rolled in six birdies to outshine his playing partners, home favourites Paul Lawrie and Martin Laird, and move to seven under.
