Phil Mickelson has arrived at Gullane to begin his preparations for the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open but doesn’t seem up for a chat prior to the championship.
The American, under fire for two rules breaches in the last month, had already declined a visit to the media centre for interview and again politely refused when asked if he would answer brief questions as he left the practice area at Gullane yesterday.
“I think I’ll take a pass on that,” said the 2013 Scottish Open champion. “Maybe I’ll see you all later on.”
Mickelson headed out for a practice round on Gullane as he returned to the championship, having missed last year’s Scottish Open at Dundonald.
He’s still not publicly addressed his infamous breach of rules in the third round of the US Open at Shinnecock Hills, when he chased after a runaway putt and redirected it towards the hole, incurring a two-shot penalty.
The only sign of contrition for that has been a text circulated to selected US journalists admitting it was “not my finest hour”.
At the weekend at the Miltary Tribute event at the Greenbrier on the PGA Tour he was given another two-shot penalty for giving himself a preferable lie by batting down some long grass beside a tee, this time drawing the attention of rules officials when he realised he might have committed a breach.
