Mickelson Returns to Scottish Open


Last year Phil Mickelson's visit to the U.K. was a resounding success. First he went to Castle Stuart for the Scottish Open, where he finished tied in regulation with Branden Grace and then beat the South African in a playoff.

Next, Mickelson headed to the Open Championship at Muirfield Golf Links, where Lefty finally won the cherished claret jug after closing with rounds of 72 and 66 to beat Sweden's Henrik Stenson by three strokes.

The victory was Mickelson's fifth major title; all that's missing from his career Grand Slam is an elusive U.S. Open title.

Mickelson is playing in the Scottish Open for the fifth year in a row. This year the event moved to Royal Aberdeen - the sixth-oldest golf club in the world. The windswept links alongside the North Sea may play a bit tougher than Castle Stuart, which last year yielded a 17-under 271, 72-hole total to both Mickelson and Grace.

Weather, as usual for a U.K. links, will likely play a big part in 2014; the Aberdeen forecast calls for temperatures in the low-60s, periodic rains and moderate - for the coast of Scotland - winds.

Mickelson said on Wednesday that he's actually hoping for some bad weather. "(Thursday) is supposed to be terrible weather - I hope it is," the 44-year-old told the European Tour's website. "Because I would love to be able to get out in that stuff and play and play in that stuff that I never get a chance to back home, and have actually started to play pretty well in over the years. It's fun and it's a great opportunity.

"There's a lot of things that have to go your way and as the weather changes, you need to have a good break with the weather and we're going to have some rough weather these next few days, which I'm actually really looking forward to. I've played some is of my best golf in bad weather.

"I remember Royal St. George's in 2011 in that awful weather playing some of my best golf. We'll see how it goes but I'm excited to play."

Though he tasted success last year at Castle Stuart, he said the move to Royal Aberdeen suits him just fine. "(Caddie) Bones (Mackay) and I have had a great few days here, getting in a little early, such great golf courses here.

"I have loved Castle Stuart where we've played the last few years. I just think it's such a great modern day-designed links golf course, but Royal Aberdeen is a real asset to this tournament. It's a beautiful golf course. We played here on Monday and it was opposite wind, and as we go out today it, just feels like a totally different course."

"I've been over in Europe now for two weeks already, and I'm acclimatized to the time and enjoying my time here and looking forward to playing some golf. I love these two events. They were two of the most memorable events of my career arguably last year. Having my family here, spending the two weeks here, and winning both events was something I'll always cherish."

The memories of last year's British Open are still fresh in Mickelson's mind. "Walking up the 18th hole at Muirfield knowing I had the tournament in the grasp was really the greatest feeling to be able to take advantage of that moment and not have to grind it out but really enjoy the walk. I'll always remember that, and it's a very emotional time for me."

As for the test at Royal Aberdeen, he added, "You've got to maneuver yourself around the bunkers and keep the ball in play, get it up on the green and have some great lag putting and short game around the green because you'll have a lot of 60- to 100-foot chips and putts.

"I really believe coming here and playing the week before the Open, playing in a great links test like this, is a real asset, an asset for players from overseas to get acclimated to the time and really get acclimated to these conditions.

"When you really appreciate and love it, like I've learned to, it's exciting. It turns out to be some of our favorite weeks of the year."

Mickelson will be paired in the first two rounds with England's Luke Donald and the Netherlands' Joost Luiten.

For all the pairings and tee times, visit http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2014/tournamentid=2014054/teetimes/index.html.