A year ago, mudslides at Castle Stuart shortened the Scottish Open. On Friday, Phil Mickelson ended a slide which put him into contention in Inverness.
Mickelson shot 8-under 64 in his second round to jump from 11 shots back of the lead after Day 1 to within five heading into the weekend. It was Mickelson's first under-par round since May 20, when he shot 66 to close the HP Byron Nelson Championship.
"It's not like there was anything overnight," said Mickelson, who snapped a career-worst skid of eight consecutive over-par rounds. "I just needed to get out and play a little bit more because I felt like parts (of my game) were not that far off but I wasn't putting together an entire round."
The world No. 16 got off to a great start, making an eagle 2 by holing out from 60 yards at the 10th hole - his first of the day. Six more birdies followed, including four in a row from No. 16 back to the first.
While Mickelson thrived in the atypical Scottish weather on Friday, he hopes for a stronger breeze and some rain over the weekend.
"I hope the next couple of days we get some bad weather as a preparation for next week (at the British Open)," he said, "because it's supposed to be wet and windy next week."
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