14/07/2013 Golf: Scottish Open

Stuart in the heart of the highlands. Beautiful views over the

Murray Firth from this clubhouse and all over the links. This is the most

northerly UK golf course ever to host a European Tour event. Final

day of this Scottish Open and it brings to a close a three-year stint

here at Castle Stuart, though we'll be back again in the future. But

there is a feeling we might just have left the very best until last,

because there is a couple of golfing heavy weights who have muscled their

way on to the leaderboard and are ready to slug it out for the title

and �500,000 first prize. Yesterday, Scotland's half-way leader Chris

Doak couldn't maintain his grip at the head, finishing five shots off

the pace after shooting a one over par round of 73. But, England's John

Parry had momentum. The Harrogate golfer had opened up with 64 on

Thursday, but came home with 66 to sit two shots off the pace. Also

signing for 66 was South Africa's Branden Grace. He loves this style

of golf. He racked up seven birdies. And sitting on the same mark, JB

Hansen, who had signed for a tleeR under par round of 69. But one of

the biggest cheers on Saturday was reserved for this putt from Phil

Mickleson. It was one of six birdies in the last 11 from the high-ranked

player here. A charge that booked him into the final pairing and there

he was joined by the Swede Henrik Stenson. He fired a 64 on Friday and

followed it up with a 66 on Saturday. The Swede who was one

ranked as high as number four in the world, but who is emerging from a

career slump. All heading into the all-important fourth round. A highly

significant round to come. This was the picture before things had got

qualified for the Open. The others were chasing the one remaining

qualifying spot that would come with the title here. Big crowds here in

the highlands were loving the idea of watching two of the most

mercurial characters in golf, Stenson and four-time Major winner,

Mickleson going toe to toe on the final day. We have had pretty calm

conditions here all week, but the wind was forecast to get up this

afternoon and that was going to make things a lot tougher. Add to that,

the unforced error, straight left from the semi-rough for Phil on the

first hole and you are right up against it and Phil wouldn't recover

on the first green. This one horse-shoes out for the double

bogey. Not the start he imagined. Henrik Stenson was looking very much

in control. A steady opening par, followed by this chip shot from a

long par five second, setting up an opening birdie of the day and a move

to 17 under. Rookie JB Hansen had a treble start. But he gamely picked

two shots back up at the next two. And Mickleson had his crampons on at

the second. Only a single round in the 60s for this boy. And John Parry

of England, one of the men fighting to claim an Open spot had bogeyed

the opening hole, but steadied to the third to return to 14 under.

Much more to come. Stenson was having extended his lead to three

shots from Parry and Branden Grace in the tie for second. Mickleson

some four shots adrift now at 13 under and JB Hansen clawing his way

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at the ball. He was a little getting one back on the previous

hole. JB Hansen, three straight birdies. This will be some come

Opened up with a par and a nine at tied sixth at the PGA at Wentworth.

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Just astonishing. Fantastic performance by the young Dane.

Two moves to 14 under. Hasn't dropped a shot yet and he's just

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card, but that will be a third JB Hansen. A nine at the second. Par

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five. And since then five straight He's 15 under alongside hen sen,

Him. It May Only Be The Sixth Hole, That He Knows That Phil Mickelson

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sixth holes. The other two were passage of golf. He has done it

again! Unbelievable! What a fantastic start! 34 doesn't even

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tell half the story. Unbelievable Muirfield next week. He qualified in

the international qualification at Sunningdale. He played last week in

France, top ten, and very much in the picture here, Gareth Maybin from

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Pepperell. A very impressive young Stenson. He drops alongside JB

Hansen at 16 under. Here is how it looks in the final round. JB Hansen,

the 22-year-old Dane, alongside his fellow Scandinavian, Henrik Stenson

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one. April shot from Phil Mickelson. the group three behind the

Scandinavians. I wonder what the mere mortals would do from here?

is certainly manageable. Especially goodness, the galleries here have

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Started with par, then he had nine at the par five second. We thought,

what a shame, his chance has gone. He had five bar birdies in a row,

par at the eighth and then birdies -- a good round today. This is a

really good final day challenge from the American -based Scot. JB Hansen,

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this remarkable young Dane, in the flag makes that shot so much more

difficult. I think that is why he played it safe out to the right. It

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eight holes. Right now it is as much merit, he has not finished higher

than 30th place. You don't want to be aware of where you are. It was a

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top, tied with the youngster, JB There is simply no quitting for

Mickelson. JB Hansen and Henrik Stenson are

tied up the top. Just behind them, the young Englishman and the very

Branden Grace was a little unlucky with the second shot to the par five

as it run over. He feels a little That was a long putts, quite tight.

Not too shabby. He will conjure up two days, looks like it will be

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holding on there. A couple of yards further and that would be down the

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the lead. It's hotting up. One unsighted to the pin. There is a

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take that much time over that. Quick heading to Muirfield. Won't see the

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haven't we? Sometimes they've missed popular visitor to the Scottish

first mistake the young man has made since the horrific nine at the

second. What a horrible time to do it. It will be a bogey five for him.

That will drop him into a three-way bogey is four under for the round

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bounce. Taking the left turn. This could run very close. Go on. It's

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needs a little further, a few more He is two behind Mickleson. It may

be that the fairy tail isn't going to come true. -- fairytale isn't

final holes that will decide the kouT come of this year's Scottish

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Open. -- outcome of this year's Grace has hold that very well. --

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the unthinkable! After what he has done today, it might not be

Stenson since that second shot into 12. Since then coming he has

struggled. -- since then, he has the last five holes. He slips back

to 15 under, currently three behind Mickelson knows how important that

one was. He stays at 18 under par, one ahead of grace and no three

ahead of Stenson. -- one ahead of South African, Branden Grace. 17

under par, he has set a target which the home of golf. I think every

player wants to win in Scotland. It has been a long time. His wife and

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damaging bogeys in the last six holes. Stenson finishes at 15 under

hard work. That is a stunning end. Phil Mickelson bogeys the last when

it seemed to be absolutely under control and in his grasp. That means

that the 69 for 17 under leaves him tied with Branden Grace. Branden

Grace will play off with Phil Mickelson for the Aberdeen Asset

Management Scottish Open championship, both finishing at 17

under par, two clear of JB Hansen Mickelson in the Scottish Open. He

lost a sudden death play-off several years ago to Gregory Havret. Will he

of the ball. Not ideal. A different club choice this time. Most of the

wind is from his right. It will hurt a little bit going north towards the

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Mickelson? ! Absolutely wonderful! The crowd rise. Making amends for

the overenthusiastic first putt last Grace needs a birdie to keep the

play-off going. A good attempt by Branden Grace, but Phil Mickelson

may have made us wait, but an absolutely brilliant shot in the

first play-off hole, and Phil Mickelson is this time the Aberdeen

Asset Management Scottish Open champion. Talk about winning in

style! Scottish Open champion at last. He has waited a long time for

title, how surprising was it to be given it? Definitely. I didn't see

where he was, I heard he knocked it I've passed and I thought, you never

know. It makes it tricky. I thought I played well and handled myself

well in the play-off. He just made a special shot. You can't fight

against that. You have had a terrific week, you were number one

in the putting statistics. What would you try to improve going into

Muirfield? I don't think I need to improve anything, I just have to

stick to my game plan and routines and the things I have been doing

well. With a bit more local knowledge and course management, you

never know what will happen next week. Time to salute the first

American champion in this event for 17 years. George O'Grady, the chief

executive of the European tour, the First Minister, Alex Salmond, and

the chairman of Aberdeen Asset Management, all join me now. Would

you like to do the honours, please? Still, we and you have waited an

awfully long time for your first victory in the home of golf. What

does it mean to you? It is there is their especial to have success over

here. It has been the biggest challenge of my career, adapting to

links style golf. This was a challenge in difficult conditions on

firm ground to play some good golf, although spotty golf, I played good

golf to come on top. This is fulfilling and special. You found

yourself for shots behind and we thought you would tie it up at the

72nd, then you take us into the Gregory Havret country six years

ago. Hazel, nobody likes a predictable movie, you always want a

little bit of suspense! I don't know what happened in the last hole, I

lost focus. In 2006 U won the week before you won the green jacket at

the Masters, is another back-to-back possible? I hope so. I don't think

there is a better way to get ready for a major championship or an Open

Championship than playing well the week before and getting into

contention and coming out on top just gives me more confidence. There

is a loss that is involved in the British Open. You need some luck

with your tee times, you need to play well and have some good

bouncers. Congratulations. Phil will be hoping his form rolls on in the

next couple of days as he and we prepare for another adventure on the

programme on Wednesday evening, then live, and interrupted coverage of

the 120 seconds Open championship at 9am on Thursday morning. Can