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Molinari Joins Noren In Halfway Lead
Donald Closes In On Scottish Open Lead
Mickelson Finds Form At Scottish Open
Molinari Joins Noren In Halfway Lead
Francesco Molinari and Alex Noren share a one shot lead going into what promises to be a spectacular weekend in the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Castle Stuart Golf Links.
Birdies and eagles were flying in all across this magnificent links on another perfect day for scoring on the banks of the Moray Firth – each one taking the Birdie Pledge charity donation ever higher – but in the end it was Molinari, the overnight leader, and Noren at the head of a congested leaderboard on 12 under par.
Molinari, who smashed the course record on the opening day, even had a triple bogey seven on the 464 yard seventh before battling back to a two under par 70, but that slip was enough to allow Swede Noren to join him out in front after a second successive 66 the day after his girlfriend Emelie won an event in Norway on his 30th birthday.
“It feels great,” said Noren, a three-time European Tour winner. “I really enjoyed it today again. I made a lot of birdies out there, and an eagle which helps a lot.
“My last nine holes I played really well, drove the ball well and it felt a lot better coming in with the 66 today than the 66 yesterday.”
Big things were expected of Noren when he won in Wales and in his home country last season, but he has not had a top-five finish since October and is trailing way behind in the Ryder Cup race.
"I think I'm not going to be on top at the end of the day," he said at lunchtime. But he was wrong.
Molinari had been on fire since the final round of the Alstom Open de France at Le Golf National, and finishing that tournament with a back nine of 29 before starting this week with a 30 – a collective 18 consecutive holes of 59 – but the magic had to come to an end at some point.
“It is very tough, and especially after what I did Sunday in Paris,” he said. “Obviously the last two rounds before today everything went my way and I kind of knew it was not going to last forever.
“I did well though. I made a big mistake on the seventh but I fought hard to get some shots back, and I'm still up there with the leaders. So it's going to be hopefully a good weekend.”
Fellow Italian Matteo Manassero, twice a winner on the European Tour already and still a teenager, is in the hunt for another victory - and a place in The Open Championship - after a 64 matched the low round of the day.
Manassero's scintillating seven birdies in the last nine holes brought him only one off the lead alongside Argentina’s Ricardo Gonzalez.
The European Tour's youngest-ever champion could qualify for Royal Lytham & St Annes next week with a top five finish, but his sights are on emulating what German Marcel Siem did at the Alstom Open de France last Sunday by winning to earn his spot.
"The Open is on my mind and this is my last chance," said the 19 year old from Verona, who stands 11 under par at halfway.
Manassero finished a brilliant 13th at Turnberry three years ago and added: "I would really love to be in The Open. I like links golf and it has a special atmosphere."
The two Italians were at the same Italian restaurant on Thursday night and followed that with a trip to McDonalds for ice creams. Now they are rivals for a first prize of €518,045 and a title won by Molinari's brother Edoardo two years ago.
Argentina's big-hitting Gonzalez is joint third with Manassero after also shooting 64 thanks to a hot putter – he only needed 27 putts all day.
“It was great. It’s been a long time since I shot a 64, and especially in a tournament. When I'm feeling very good, it's always my putter. That's the important thing.”
India’s SSP Chowrasia is a further shot back after a 67 while World Number One and defending champion Luke Donald's 68 means he is in the ten-strong group at nine under par who only three shots to make up and Phil Mickelson's 64 brought him just five back.
With 2009 winner Martin Kaymer among those alongside Donald and Padraig Harrington six under, the final 36 holes has all sorts of possibilities still.
Ernie Els survived with nothing to spare at four under - only two off the lowest-ever cut on The European Tour.
There was also a second hole-in-one at the 168-yard 11th for the second day running. England's Andrew Johnston won 168 bottles of Laurant Perrier champagne for being the first and Scot Peter Whiteford had to settle for one magnum.
"I'll have a word - maybe he can give me a couple," said Whiteford, who shot 65 to move to eight under.
Donald Closes In On Scottish Open Lead
CASTLE STUART, United Kingdom, July 13, 2012 (AFP) - World number one Luke Donald put himself back into winning contention after shooting a flawless second round 68 on Friday to be just three shots back in the defence of his Scottish Open title. 
Donald birdied his second and third holes and then, after 13 straight pars, birdied his closing two holes to move to nine-under par, trailing Italy's Francesco Molinari (70) and Sweden's Alex Noren (66) who head the event on 12-under.
Donald has burst back into winning form in his first event since missing the halfway cut with a shock 11-over in last month's US Open.
"It was a nice way to finish with a couple of birdies and that puts me only three back," said Donald.
"My putter just went a bit cold there for a while and couldn't quite make some birdies when I needed but overall, it was a pretty stress-free day."
Donald will be seeking to win his second European Tour event in three tournaments and also become the first player to retain the Scottish Open.
"I came up here to Scotland to successfully defend and that is what I'm here for," he added.
"I'm working hard and also getting my game ready for next week."
Noren, who celebrated his 30th birthday on Thursday, is on target to secure one of the two remaining spots into next week's British Open.
The leading player within the top-five finishes -- and not already exempt -- in both the Scottish Open and the PGA Tour's John Deere Classic this week, will earn entry into golf's oldest Major.
However Noren's goal of contesting a fourth British Open is under threat by Argentina'a Ricardo Gonzalez and Italian teenager Matteo Manassero who both shot 64s to be tied in third place at 11-under.
They are also hoping to get into the British Open.
India's SSP Chowrasia (67), who is in fourth place on 10-under par, is also seeking to qualify.
Sharing sixth place on nine under par with Donald is 2009 Scottish Open winner, Martin Kaymer of Germany.
Kaymer birdied five of his opening seven holes in an eventual round of 68.
The German, who was ranked number one in the world in April last year, also has turned around recent poor form, including missing the cut in the US Open and finishing in the tail of the field in last week's French Open.
"It's a mind-set and belief in yourself, and knowing that I can play good golf," said Kaymer.
"It was just not happening this year, so far. But after having a good time off on Monday when I was back home in Dusseldorf, I got a little fortunate here and there, and then all of a sudden, you start off better than in the past."
Phil Mickelson posted the equal lowest round of the day, an eight under par 64, to move to seven under par and also return to form after missing the cut in both the US Open and last week's Greenbrier Classic.
The triple Major winning pair of Padraig Harrington (69) and Ernie Els (70) finished a respective six under par and four under par.
However, missing the cut was Scotland's Ryder Cup hopeful Paul Lawrie along with fellow Scots Colin Montgomerie and Sandy Lyle.
Also cut from the event was Korean American Kevin Na who received an invitation to contest his first-ever regular European Tour event.
And Paul Casey's wretched season continued with the English golfer posting a pair of 76s for an eight over par tally.
Mickelson Finds Form At Scottish Open
CASTLE STUART, United Kingdom, July 13, 2012 (AFP) - Four-time Major winner Phil Mickelson burst free of a recent form slump with a blistering 64 on day two of the Scottish Open at Castle Stuart on Friday.
Mickelson holed his second shot for an eagle 'two' at his opening hole ahead of a round also of six birdies including four in succession from his ninth hole.
Mickelson's eight under par tally in benign conditions along the Moray Firth shoreline in northern Scotland left the visiting American trailing just five strokes behind Sweden's Alex Noren, who carded a day two 66 to hold the clubhouse lead on 12-under par.
Mickelson's round was his lowest in five months since recording a similar 64 on the final day in capturing the AT & T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am and his 40th PGA Tour success.
And after receiving a late invitation to contest the premier Scottish Open, Mickelson is pleased he made the trip despite having to leave his family vacationing in Rome without him.
"There was big difference today compared to my 73 yesterday as I just hit a lot better shots, struck it solidly and made a few more putts," he said.
"I have only played three tournaments the last couple of months so I knew I just needed to play more, and I'm glad I added this tournament.
"It's very helpful to see my game progress so quickly and I am very lucky as I have a very supportive family.
"In fact, when I was thinking about adding this tournament, after missing the cut last week, my wife Amy and I thought simultaneously of the same decision, so I am very lucky."
Noren's second straight 66 for a 12-under par tally included two opening birdies but then a third hole double bogey.
The Monte Carlo based Swede, who is chasing a third Tour victory, also recorded a further four birdies and a 16th hole eagle.
Noren celebrated his 30th birthday on Thursday and his girlfriend of two years, Emelie Lind's gift to him was winning a Nordea Tour event, the Norwegian Challenge, on July 9.
"Emelie gave me a nice birthday gift in winning a tournament on Monday, so that was a really nice present for the both of us," he said.
"It's also good to bounce back after last week's effort in France as I was just one off the lead going into Saturday but finished poorly to be two over on the weekend."
Argentina's Ricardo Gonzalez shares second place in the clubhouse in recording an eight under par 64 to move to 11-under par.
However there was a bizarre incident involving the 42-year old four-time Tour winner at the par four, seventh hole or the 16th hole of his round when his ball landed in a packet of crisps.
A woman spectator had left the half full packet of crisps on the ground and Gonzalez's second shot came to rest in the packet.
"It was funny when I got there we couldn't find my ball and a woman said it was in her packet of crisps," said Gonzalez (smiling).
Gonzalez marked the spot with a tee and removed the ball before sending a 5-iron to six feet for sixth of seven birdies in his round.
"I gave the woman a signed glove, so she was very happy but there was a time at Wentworth when a ball I hit ended up in a baby's trolley but I was lucky as there was no baby in the trolley."
And well-placed on 10-under par is India's SSP Chowraisa who carded a second straight 67 to move to 10-under par.
The 425th world ranked Chowrasia started his round with three straight birdies as he looks to capture a third European Tour title.
"I have played very well these two days, so I am very happy," he said.
"This is the fifth straight year I have played the Scottish Open and, apart from one other round, this is only the third time I have broken 70, so I am very pleased.
"I have not played much links golf in my career but for some reason this week I have taken a good liking to the conditions.
"Also I have an excellent caddy on the bag in 'Ronnie' (John Roberts) who has caddied with much success on the Asian Tour but was brought up playing links golf so he's been a great help this week with handing this form of the game."
Leading and selected second round scores in the Scottish Open, Castle Stuart Golf Links, on Friday (GBR/IRL unless stated, par 72):
132 - Francesco Molinari (ITA) 62-70, Alexander Noren (SWE) 66-66
133 - Ricardo Gonzalez (ARG) 69-64, Matteo Manassero (ITA) 69-64
134 - Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia (IND) 67-67
135 - Thomas Aiken (RSA) 68-67, Anders Hansen (DEN) 68-67, Martin Kaymer (GER) 67-68, Matthew Baldwin 67-68, Peter Lawrie 66-69, Anthony Wall 67-68, Shane Lowry 66-69, Thorbjorn Olesen (DEN) 70-65, Alejandro Canizares (ESP) 64-71, Luke Donald 67-68
136 - Jeev Milkha Singh (IND) 66-70, Peter Whiteford 71-65, Raphael Jacquelin (FRA) 65-71
137 - Soren Kjeldsen (DEN) 65-72, Steve Webster 69-68, David Howell 70-67, Robert Coles 66-71, Phillip Price 68-69, Nicolas Colsaerts (BEL) 68-69, Simon Dyson 68-69, Pablo Larrazabal (ESP) 67-70, Phil Mickelson (USA) 73-64, Marc Warren 68-69, Andrea Pavan (ITA) 70-67, Richard Green (AUS) 68-69, Ignacio Garrido (ESP) 68-69, Thomas Levet (FRA) 68-69
Selected
138 - Alex Haindl (RSA) 70-68, George Coetzee (RSA) 69-69, Thongchai Jaidee (THA) 68-70, Padraig Harrington 69-69
139 - Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) 69-70, Jose-Maria Olazabal (ESP) 69-70
140 - Branden Grace (RSA) 72-68, Ernie Els (RSA) 70-70, Marcus Fraser (AUS) 69-71, Tjaart Van Der Walt (RSA) 70-70, Miguel Angel Jimenez (ESP) 69-71, Jbe Kruger (RSA) 72-68
Missed cut
141 - Aaron Baddeley (AUS) 69-72
142 - Darren Fichardt (RSA) 72-70, Brett Rumford (AUS) 72-70, Paul Lawrie 73-69, Paul McGinley 71-71
143 - James Kingston (RSA) 73-70, Colin Montgomerie 71-72, Matthew Zions (AUS) 74-69, Sandy Lyle 70-73
144 - Thomas Bjorn (DEN) 74-70
145 - Warren Abery (RSA) 71-74, Keith Horne (RSA) 74-71, Rich Beem (USA) 68-77
146 - Jaco Van Zyl (RSA) 75-71
147 - Andrew Dodt (AUS) 72-75