Lefty Pulls off Scottish Open Win


After closing with a 3-under 69 to tie Branden Grace in regulation, Phil Mickelson birdied the first sudden-death playoff hole to beat the South African in the Scottish Open at Castle Stuart Golf Links in Inverness.

Mickelson could have won the tournament outright on the 72nd hole, but he three-putted the par-5 closer for a bogey that tied him with Grace - who also shot 69 - at 17-under 271. On the 18th again in the playoff, Mickelson hit s superb 45-yard pitch to a foot, forcing Grace to make a 25-footer to match Mickelson's kick-in birdie. But it wasn't mean to be for Grace.

"I was so mad at myself for mentally losing my focus that I came out on the playoff hole really focused," said Mickelson, who was excited about the win after coming close before in Scotland's national golf championship.

"This is really cool. I've been coming here for many years and have had a few opportunities and let them slip away," said Mickelson, who was on the other end of a playoff when he lost to France's Gregory Havret in the 2007 Scottish Open at Loch Lomond.

Tied for third at 273 were Denmark's JB Hansen (71) and 54-hole leader Henrik Stenson of Sweden, who could only muster a 73 on Sunday.

Scotland's Martin Laird (68) shared fifth at 274 with Gareth Maybin of Northern Ireland (71) and England's John Parry (72). Belgium's Nicolas Colsaerts (69) and France's Raphael Jacquelin (72) tied for eighth at 275, while another stroke back were Germany's Marcel Siem (69) and American Peter Uihlein (74).

The first three days were balmy and warm, but the final round was played in more windswept Scottish-like conditions.

With the win at Castle Stuart, Mickelson feels like he's ready for what should figure to be a much stiffer test at Muirfield for the British Open, which starts Thursday. "It really was valuable. Today was a great day, to have this type of wind. We had three days of benign weather but it had some teeth today. I'm anticipating this type of wind next week and if we do then this will be great preparation."

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