july14 scotopensat

Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els are lurking ominously near the top of the leaderboard at The Scottyish Open.

The event is seen as the warm-up to The Open at Carnoustie next week and it looks like two of the biggest names in golf are coming into form at just the right time. Mickelson is in third at nine under and Els is tied seventh at seven under.

Gregory Havret of France and Spain’s José Manuel Lara share the lead after two rounds at  Loch Lomond.

Havret fired the low round of the week – his seven under par 64 earning him a bottle of 30 year old Ballantine’s whisky for his considerable efforts.

Meanwhile Lara maintained his concentration levels in the worst of an afternoon downpour to shoot a six under par 65 which propelled him alongside the Frenchman at the top of the leaderboard on 132, ten under par.

 England’s Simon Khan  is also in the hunt. He is at eight under and looking for a good weekend.

There’s a lot at stake for Havret. He has not yet qualified for The Open and this is his last chance to get in.

He missed out in final qualifying at The K Club last week on a final round  countback to Pelle Edberg. Never having  played in a Major, he is anxious to gain the one last available place to the highest finisher in the top ten at Loch Lomond, not otherwise exempt.

He said: “I think there are a few reasons why my form has turned around. First of all I changed my putter before the Open de France.  It was sort of a lucky one, I went to my flat and was searching around and I saw the belly putter and said, ‘oh, why not give it a try’ because I was struggling a little bit on the greens.  And since that my putting is a lot, lot better.

 “Secondly I have started seeing Jos Vanstiphout. He came to me after my first round of the BMW PGA Championship and I was obviously playing very bad since the beginning of the year.  My first ten tournaments were really horrible. 

“Jos came to me and we worked a bit together, and I was much better after that.  And my coach went to see him at the Open de France and said to him, ‘You know, you have to work with Greg, I think he needs you,’ so since then we have been working together.  It’s not like we are ten hours every day together, but he definitely changed something in my mind and I feel much better.”

Mickelson, who still feels a bit of pain from his wrist injury, played solidly yesterday (Saturday). The three-times Major-winner said: “I hit a few bad shots but I was able to keep it in play, make a few pars and a couple of birdies coming in.

“I was very fortunate to have shot under par today.  I wasn’t hitting it where I wanted to. Hopefully I can get it turned around for the weekend to have a chance.”

Els, aiming to become the first three-time winner of the title, matched Mickelson’s closing birdie to get into the top ten and admitted he was still a little rusty after taking two weeks off. There’s been a lot going on, with my business and suchlike, but that’s running really nicely now and I feel comfortable again.

“I’m looking forward to the weekend. I’ve said this for a long time – but I’m close. My swing feels good and the putting stroke is starting to feel better.”