After hob-nobbing with the First Minister, Phil Mickelson got down to business at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open and made a strong case for having cracked links golf at last.
The American played with Alex Salmond in the pro-am and on Thursday shot a 66 to lie just a couple of shots behind leader John Parry of England. That it was compiled on another glorious and warm day on the Moray Firth is the only question mark.
The wind barely moved a wisp of grass until mid-morning, which gave the first wave of starters a huge first-up advantage.
Only a handful of afternoon starters, who had to deal with a steadier breeze blowing down the Firth, got into the top 30, and the top two scores of the day Parry’s 64 and Simon Khan’s 65 came in the first two groups on the course, who were on the last hole before the wind got up.
Mickelson and playing partner Stephen Gallacher and Padraig Harrington got just the end of it, enough to put a stall in their bids to lead, but the Scot managed a 68 and was impressed by his playing partner’s style and preparation.
Gallacher spotted an unusual addition to Mickelson’s bag which shows some strategy clearly aimed towards next week.
“He’s got a driver, a two-wood, a rescue and a 64 degree wedge in the bag, so he’s got one eye on next week and the The Open,” said the Scot, confirming that Mickelson was hitting the ball pretty low.
The two-wood was of course a pillar of three-time Open champion Nick Faldo’s arsenal for the championship, most notably in 1990 where he used what he described as “a really good links club” on his way to his second title.
It was also in the bag for 1992 in his final win at Muirfield, so clearly Mickelson has been doing a little historic homework.
In the meantime, Mickelson has no fears at all about a win this week taking the edge of the preparation for next.
“The best way to get ready for next week is to get into contention, to feel that nervousness and those butterflies and try to win,” reasoned the American.
“When I won the Masters in 2006 I won the week before by 13 in Atlanta and there really couldn’t have been any better way to get ready.”
Which is why Mickelson also approves if Castle Stuart is playing as easily as it appears.
“It’s perfect set-up for next week because it gives you a chance to hit all the shots we’ll play there,” he added. “You can only handle so much punishment at the Open where the rough is so thick and the penalty for a miss is so great, so it’s better to have a week where you’re hitting the same shots and you don’t get punished.”
Two off the lead was certainly better for Mickelson than the last two years where, despite his great love of Castle Stuart, he found himself struggling to beat the cut.
And he very much enjoyed the company of the First Minister on Wednesday.
“We had great conversations throughout the day about golf and politics. He’s got a very outgoing personality and he’s easy to be around,” said Mickelson.
“What’s cool is that, as a politician, he’s an excellent golfer. You get him on the links and he knows how to swing, he’s got good clubhead speed, good touch around the greens.
“You can tell that he’s played a lot of golf over the years and I always have respect for that.”
Gallacher enjoyed his day if he felt he didn’t quite capitalise on the pleasant conditions.
“This was an easy wind for the par fives and you had to take advantage of that,” he said. “I missed a few putts from inside 10 feet, but they are so hard to read. They are all double borrows and you have to try and figure out what it’s going to do when it’s dying.
“Lots of guys will be missing putts and they are tough to read.”
He has a lot of time for Mickelson, whom he had played with on previous occasions.
“Phil’s a good lad, a top bloke, he’s just one of the boys, really. He gets on with it, chats away and he is one of the top players in the world.”
Even at 38 with considerable experience himself, Gallacher wants to see the best up close to learn from them.
“You want to be playing with these guys to see if they do anything different. It’s good to watch Phil’s strategy and how he is talking.
“You see he gets back after hitting a bad shot. His short game is brilliant, one of the best in the world and that’s also very good to watch, to see his shot selection.”
Gallacher doesn’t agree with the American that the easier the links is, the better it is.
“You want it a wee bit tougher, if possible, maybe with the wind stronger so it’s not a putting tournament,” he said. “Mind you, if it was the same weather at St Andrews today, people would be shooting seven, eight and nine under.
“Any links course needs the elements and you could count on one hand how flat it was through the first 13 holes. Once the wind got up, the final five were a bit tricky.
“You have to think about it.”See more Scottish Open coverage in Friday’s Courier.