Phil Mickelson is back at Castle Stuart Golf Links, where he won the Scottish Open in 2013 a week prior to becoming the Open Champion.
The American’s consecutive victories three years ago marked his last trip to the winners’ circle, and ‘Lefty’ will get a confidence boost with his return to the seaside town of Inverness this week.
The world number 21 finished third at The Open last time it was held at Royal Troon in 2004, so he’ll look forward to two weeks at courses he has enjoyed in the past.
Mickelson has had several close shaves this year, with five top-five finishes, the last of which came at the FedEx St. Jude Classic.
The World Golf Hall of Famer’s win in Scotland three years ago was helped by a flawless Saturday round of 66, and he beat Branden Grace in a playoff to claim a title he had come close to winning on previous occasions.
Mickelson’s statistics on the PGA Tour show that his strengths have been short game. He sits 14th in scrambling on tour, fifth in putting average and sixth in one-putt average. His scoring average of 69.58 also sees him ranked fifth on tour.
The 46-year-old’s strengths put him in a strong position to challenge for the win and join the likes of Ernie Els and Ian Woosnam as multiple-time champions at the Scottish Open.
