Phil Mickelson heads into this week’s British Open with fresh confidence after ending a 20-year European winless drought with a play-off victory in the Scottish Open.
Four-time major champion Mickelson captured his 50th pro career title when he beat South African Branden Grace with a birdie at the first extra hole of the Castle Stuart course.
The 43-year-old American will be playing his 20th British Open when the year’s third major gets underway at Muirfield on Thursday.
Links golf has not been particularly fruitful for him, and the Open has been his weakest major, but he has cause for renewed optimism after prevailing in windy conditions on Sunday.
While his best result in the Open is a tie for second at Royal St George’s two years ago, his first victory in nine attempts at the Scottish Open follows a joint second at the recent US Open.
Mickelson was forced into a play-off for Sunday’s Scottish Open title when he three-putted the last green for a 68 to tie with Grace at 17-under par.
However he rallied brilliantly as he played one of his trademark wedge shots to within six inches off the cup for the easiest of birdies in the play-off while Grace missed his birdie putt from 25 feet.
“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,” said Mickelson.
“This week has been very valuable for next week as I did a lot of things well and also there are 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 (do) have it (then) today was very important for me getting ready.”
Mickelson’s only victory in Europe prior to the Scottish Open was in 1993 when he captured a secondary Challenge Tour event near Euro Disney in Paris.