Four-time Major winning Phil Mickelson warmed-up for a hopeful double Scotland victory celebration with a six-under-par 66 on the opening day of the Scottish Open on Thursday.
Mickelson started with a bogey but then eagled the third hole of his round along with adding six birdies and one bogey.
It left the current world number eight, who is contesting the Scottish Open for a ninth occasion ahead of next week’s British Open at Muirfield, sharing third place and just two shots behind England’s John Parry who shot 64.
England’s Simon Khan is in second place with a 65 while Mickelson shares third spot with six others on a day when there were 33 eagles and 648 birdies.
“The challenge today for me was to remain patient on this course because the great thing about Castle Stuart is there is a number of easy birdie holes and a number of hard par four holes, so if you are patient on those more difficult holes you will have birdies as the round progresses,” said Mickelson.
“Castle Stuart is also just a perfect set-up for next week because it gives you a chance to hit all the shots we will have to hit next week, and play those bump-and-run shots into the green but not get beat up the week before the Open.”
Mickelson is looking to win for only a second time in Europe after capturing a secondary Challenge Tour event 20 years ago in France.
Parry played in the same 2007 Walker Cup side as Rory McIlroy but, unlike the Northern Irishman, the 26-year-old is looking to win for a second time after a maiden victory two years ago in France.
Last year Parry lost his Tour card but returned to the Tour School to finish first among the graduates.
His round is just one shot shy of his career best score and comes just a handful of weeks after making his Major debut in the US Open.
“Playing in the US Open was the catalyst for me to start playing better, and start making cuts again,” he said.