Mickelson returns to Inverness
Phil Mickelson will rekindle his love affair with the ‘Home of Golf’ at Inverness tomorrow (Thursday, June 7).
The American left-hand legend returns for his 14th appearance at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open - and the five-time Major winner is hoping the romance of his 2013 victory at Castle Stuart Golf Links will boost his chances of a repeat.
The 46-year-old produced one of the stories of the season three years ago when he clinched back-to-back victories, following up his triumph in Inverness with a famous win in the Open Championship at Muirfield one week later.
As the Scottish Open returns to Castle Stuart for the first time since his victory, Mickelson revealed a memory from 2013 when he and his wife renewed their wedding vows at the behest of his then-ten year old daughter on the morning before he lifted the trophy.
If the ten-time Ryder Cup star is to emulate his success three years ago, he will need to beat a world-class field which includes World Number Six Henrik Stenson – playing for the first time since his BMW International Open victory in Germany two weeks ago – and World Number Ten Branden Grace, the man Mickelson pipped to the prize three years ago.
Mickelson is joined in the line-up by a whole host of fellow Americans including JB Holmes, Patrick Reed and Steve Stricker.
“I love coming back here,” said Mickelson. “I loved Castle Stuart even before my win in 2013. The two years prior to that, I could see how great a golf course it is, what a wonderful design it is and how fun it is to play.
“Back in 2013, it was a very special two-week stretch for me, starting with my first championship on links golf here at the Scottish Open, and then following it up with my Open Championship win at Muirfield.
“There were two things that really stood out about that two-week stretch that I still cherish to this day. The first is how my kids looked at me. They were old enough to appreciate what had actually happened those two weeks, and they had a weird look at me, like I was cool. That was really one of the first times that I remember that. They were so young in many of my other victories.
“Sunday of the final round here at the Scottish Open, my daughter – who was ten at the time – went into town, and she had bought two rings for my wife and I, unknowing to us.
“She had gone online and became an ordained minister, and she ended up having a wedding vow renewal for me and my wife on Sunday morning at the place we were staying. It was a very emotional thing. It was one of the coolest things that has ever been done for me and Amy.
“And going back to that same spot and reminiscing, it's one of the best moments of my life and one of the moments I cherish. I'm very appreciative to have had that experience, but also to be able to come back and relive it.”
Another legend – and a Scodttish one – will be joining Mickelson at the Castle. Colin Montgomerie recalled: “It seems a long time since a Scot has won this, 17 years on, too long. So let’s hope that the younger guys can perform and win here!
“It’s great to have so many Scots playing, and Aberdeen Asset Management have done a good job in sponsoring and promoting this event. I think there are over 20 Scots playing, so it gives us all an opportunity to perform well, and hopefully not just performing well, but succeeding on Sunday.
“I’m going to concentrate on trying to do as well as possible here, and that would obviously give me confidence going into The Open next week, having performed with the type of field we have assembled here this week.”
• Phil Mickelson will be competing in the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open for the 14th time this year – a record for an American playing in the same regular European Tour event.
• The Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open has produced 30 different winners from 14 different countries. Of those 30, eight have been Major Champions.
• Since the inaugural edition of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open in 1972, the tournament has been played the week before The Open Championship every year except for 1986, when the Car Care Plan International preceded The Open. The Scottish Open was instead played in August at Haggs Castle.