Phil Mickelson clinched the Scottish Open after a playoff at the 18th hole against Branden Grace on Sunday. Both Grace and Mickelson produced three-under-par final-day rounds of 69 to finish level at 17 under, with the American missing a golden opportunity to secure the title with a six on the final hole. Mickelson could only three-putt at the last and had to settle for a play-off after Grace maintained his focus to shoot par at the 18th. However, the American&aposs quality told in the play-off, the world number eight producing a marvellous chip with his third shot to leave him with a tap-in for a birdie. South African Grace could not replicate Mickelson&aposs heroics, failing to hole a 25-yard putt to hand the four-time major winner the victory at the Castle Stuart Golf Links course. The win was Mickelson&aposs first in Europe since 1993 and comes just a month after the 43-year-old finished runner-up at the US Open for the sixth time in his career. Overnight leader Henrik Stenson endured a disappointing day, the Swede hitting one over for the day to fall back to a tie for third with Denmark&aposs JB Hansen at 15 under. Home favourite Martin Laird, Northern Ireland&aposs Gareth Maybin and England&aposs John Parry all finished tied fifth at 14 under, but the day belonged to Mickelson, who is set to move back up to fifth in the world following his triumph. Mickelson was delighted to emerge victorious ahead of The Open Championship, which starts on Thursday at Muirfield. “This is really cool,” Mickelson said. “I have been coming here for some time and had some opportunities and I almost let it slip away today. To come out on top was terrific. “I was so mad at myself for mentally losing my focus that I came out on that 18th pretty focused to make a four.”
Author: Omnisport