At 46, Phil Mickelson belongs to golf’s old guard compared to the game’s so-called “Big Four” but he is putting them in the shade at Troon this week.
Mickelson’s second-round 69 on Friday left him at 10-under par overall at the halfway stage of the British Open and left the rest of the field, including Dustin Johnson, Jason Day, Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy, playing catch-up.
After his stunning record-equalling first round of 63, Friday's effort was less spectacular but it was still a demonstration of how to play the game in the rain and the wind.
And Mickelson admitted later that being older and wiser, but also fitter and healthier than he has been in a long time, is allowing him to flourish.
“I understand the age thing but the fact is that from 10 years ago when I was playing my best golf, I’m 25 pounds lighter, I’m in better shape, I’m physically stronger than I was, I feel better and I’m starting to play some of my best golf again,” Mickelson said.
“I don’t see why I can’t continue that, not just this week but for years, and that’s kind of what the game plan is.”
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Another advantage the American has is that he knows what at takes to win an Open in Scotland, having triumphed at Muirfield in 2013, and is more relaxed as a result.
“I don’t feel the pressure like probably a lot of players do to try to win the Claret Jug because I’ve already won it and that takes a lot of pressure off me,” he said.
“I would love to add to it but having already done it was big.”
The left-hander’s round on Friday featured his first two bogeys of the week, at 12 and at 15, but there were four birdies.
Among those was a two at the short eighth, the Postage Stamp, when his tee shot almost spun in for a hole in one, finishing up just a few feet away.
Having cursed the “Golf Gods” after his birdie putt at 18 on Thursday lipped out to deny him the first 62 in a major, he refused to do the same this time.
“No I just needed a little bit more sauce on it,” he said, but he is hoping that there will be an American winner at Troon tomorrow, just as there has been the last six times the Open has been staged here.
“I think that’s probably due to the Gods and I expect them to be consistent,” he joked.
More seriously, when asked about his prospects of winning a second Open and a sixth major this weekend, he added: “It’s a little too far off. We’ve got a lot of work to do.
“We’re only halfway done with the tournament. So it’s too far off to start thinking like that, but certainly there is nothing more that I would love to add than another Claret Jug.”
Mickelson comes from sun-kissed San Diego but his round yesterday proved that he need not fear the Scottish weather, as it poured and the wind swirled around the Ayrshire coastal course.
“I was actually more worried about [Thursday’s] round than I was about these coming rounds because I feel very comfortable in these conditions to be able to shoot a number, shoot a good score.
Henrik Stenson was purring with delight after reducing his five-shot overnight deficit on Mickelson to a single stroke.
Stenson knew Mickelson’s pedigree was such that the American was unlikely to make many unforced errors and the Swede would have to press hard on his golfing accelerator.
“I was five back of Phil yesterday so of course I was hoping to gain a little and the way it turned out I gained quite a lot,” the world No 6 after firing seven birdies in a 65 that gave him a nine-under total of 133.
“I’m happy with the way I played, of course. It’s not easy out there. It’s a great result.
“I was hanging on for dear life on 11 and 12,” Stenson said, referring to the brutal weather.
“They were playing tough and I got away with a couple of pars.
The Swede is still seeking his first victory in a major but may be feeling the Open owes him a Claret Jug after three times finishing in the top three.
“I haven’t been in contention for the last six majors and that was a big, big goal of mine to try and be up there and give myself a chance,” the 40-year-old said. “So far so good.”
Stenson’s fellow Scandinavian Soren Kjeldsen lies on seven-under alongside Keegan Bradley.
The Dane again showed he is one of those golfers who thrives when the weather is grotty to power to a three-under 68.
“These conditions are what I grew up in,” Kjeldsen said. “I’m certainly used to playing in bad weather. You don’t stay inside because you would miss too many days. I like playing this kind of golf, I like the battling mentality that you need.”
Kjeldsen has won four times on the European Tour, his most recent victory coming in extremely windy conditions at the 2015 Irish Open.
“I think what helped us a little bit today was that we played the front nine, even though we played it into the wind, we played it in decent conditions,” he said.
“I got into a nice rhythm and when the bad weather came I was already in a nice rhythm. From then on I just sort of held on.”
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