GOLF: Mickelson fires hole-in-one to beat Scottish Open cut

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Star attraction Phil Mickelson ensured he survived the halfway cut in spectacular fashion in the £3million Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond today.

After 13 holes of his second round, Mickelson, the world number two and runner-up last year, was level par and outside the predicted cut mark.

But the American then fired a hole-in-one on the fifth, his 14th hole, and also picked up two more birdies to card a 67 and finish four under par, four behind clubhouse leader Damien McGrane of Ireland.

Phil Mickelson beat the cut with a hole-in-one in Loch Lomond

'It kick-started my round, I was not doing much at that point,' admitted the 38-year-old, whose five iron from 198 yards pitched around 10ft short of the hole and rolled in at perfect speed.

'I was probably right on the edge of the cut but it gave me some momentum and I birdied two more holes.

'It went over the ridge in the green so I couldn't see it go in but all of a sudden everybody behind the green jumped up and it was great to see that.

'I was struggling to get the ball in the hole so I guess I needed to hole it from off the green."

World number six Ernie Els also finished four under after adding a 66 to his opening 72. Els, twice a winner here and third last year, had dropped two shots in his last three holes last night and moaned: "Right now I should not even play tomorrow, that's how I feel.'

But the former European number one carded seven birdies and two birdies to get back into contention for the £500,000 first prize.

'I was very frustrated yesterday,' admitted Els. 'I got off to a perfect start and should have finished two under but made a couple of bad swings and let it slip.

'I had a very nice one going today and did not finish very well, five under
with a couple of blemishes. The course is there to be taken and I will need to
shoot the lights out tomorrow to have any chance.'

McGrane carded a 66 today to set the clubhouse target on eight under par, one
ahead of Thomas Bjorn and Paul Lawrie.

Bjorn needs a top-five finish to qualify for next week's Open - he has played
in every one since his debut in 1996 - while Lawrie of course is exempt for the
Open following his victory at Carnoustie in 1999.

The Scot was sharing the lead with McGrane until a wild drive on the last lead
to a bogey five and a round of 67.