Mickelson makes timely hole-in-one - Sport in brief - Evening Standard
       

Mickelson makes timely hole-in-one

Star attraction Phil Mickelson ensured he survived the halfway cut in spectacular fashion in the 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.

"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.

McGrane carded a 66 to set the clubhouse target on eight under, 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.

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