Phil Mickelson heads into the final round of the Scottish Open just two shots from the lead bidding to end a 20-year title drought in European golf.
Mickelson joined tournament leader Henrik Stenson in signing for a six under par 66 on Saturday to have a four-way share of second place on 14 under par.
Stenson picked up seven birdies in getting to 16 under, striving to win for the first time this year after being runner-up in April’s Houston Open.
“I’m in a good spot at the moment and it would be the icing on the cake if I were to win tomorrow going into next week’s (British) Open,” said Stenson.
The four time major-winning Mickelson, who is the highest ranked player in the field at number eight in the world, parred his opening seven holes before completing the last 11 in six under par, including three birdies in succession from the ninth hole on the Castle Stuart course.
Mickelson has 46 victories to his credit but just one victory in Europe and that was in 1993 in capturing a secondary Challenge Tour event near Euro Disney in France.
“Any victory over here would be terrific but then we are getting ahead of ourselves,” said Mickelson.
“There’s a packed leaderboard and it will take one good round of a shootout between 15 or 20 guys that are right there. I’m playing well and it feels terrific. I would love to win here in the UK especially on a links golf course.”
Mickelson shares second place with South African Branden Grace (66), Denmark’s JB Hansen (69) and England’s John Parry (66).
Northern Ireland’s Gareth Maybin produced the lowest round of the day with an eight under par 64 to be tied in sixth place on 13 under with Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin (65) and American Peter Uihlein (70).
While Stenson, Mickelson and Grace are already exempt into the British Open, Hansen, Parry, Maybin, Jacquelin and Uihlein are seeking a win to qualify.
Twenty-two players will go into the final round lying within six shots of the lead.