Three years ago, Phil Mickelson ventured to Castle Stuart Golf Links and captured the 2013 Scottish Open.
Then he did the improbable. He bagged the big one — The Open Championship staged that year at Muirfield.
The victory came on the course that will host this week’s Scottish Open and this event has taken on increased importance, especially for American golfers.
There is no PGA Tour event this week. Rain and ensuing floods devasted most of West Viriginia, including the Greenbrier Resort, leading to the cancellation of the event.
Mickelson found out in 2013 that Castle Stuart in Inverness was the perfect place to prep for the Open Championship. It is a true links course, seaside with the traditional heather and gorse that can spell doom for errant tee shots on these venues.
Mickelson will have company this week.
Rickie Fowler will defend the title he won last year at Gullane. Patrick Reed, J.B. Holmes, Jamie Lovemark and Steve Stricker are also in the field.
Russell Knox will join the field as this is his hometown.
For the Americans, it’s a week to get acclimated to the time change and the countryside and the demands of links golf.
Links golf is staged on courses controlled by natural elements, unlike the over-watered, over-pampered, over-manicured settings that PGA Tour players see week-in and week-out.
Other big names have played in and won this event — Justin Rose, Ernie Els, Colin Montgomerie and Lee Westwood.
Oh yes, and there’s that little factor known as the Scottish weather. Rule is to expected the unexpected. There could be rain, could be winds, could be warm, might be cold. You never know what you’re going to get.
This week, the temperatures at Castle Stuart will reach the low 60s with light rain a possibility every day.
That’s the main thing with Scottish golf — weather.
It was Tom Watson’s ability to adapt to the conditions that won him five, nearly six, Open Championships.
So who will have the advantage next week at the 145th Open Championship at Royal Troon?
First things first, let’s see who can perform at Castle Stuart.
