At the end of an historic and hugely significant day at Castle Stuart, Henrik Stenson rose through the field to ascend to the summit of the leaderboard at the 31st Scottish Open. With Saturday beginning with the welcome announcement that the Scottish Government and Aberdeen Asset Management have combined to secure the future of the event until at least 2017, there was a great sense of optimism around the course. Ultimately, as another historic moment occurred with the event being broadcast live on NBC, it was down to the players to put on a show on a defenceless Castle Stuart Links that once again yielded low scores.
In 2014, the Scottish Open will move to Royal Aberdeen in the North-East of Scotland, before travelling around links courses in Scotland not on the Open Championship rota. The event will return to Castle Stuart during this period, which is a welcome development for the local area, and for the players who have embraced the challenge of the brilliantly designed course.
After his stunning 64 of Friday, Henrik Stenson continued in that manner completing a fine third round of 66. He leads the way by two shots from Phil Mickelson, JB Hansen, John Parry and Branden Grace. All facets of his game looked to be back to the form that took him to the Players Championship title in 2009. He was striking the ball beautifully, and converting the many chances he gave himself with the putter. The popular Swede reflected on his day:
“Striking-wise, it was a lot better today. Yesterday was a funny round. I scored well but I didn't feel like I was playing that great but obviously played my way around the golf course in a great way. Then I went to the range and had a good practice session and just, you know, concentrated extra on my striking and it was there at the warm up today and brought it on the course nicely and hit some great shots out there today. It was probably as good as I felt over the ball all season, so that's promising. Touch wood, we can carry that on tomorrow, as well, but in this game, every day is a new day, so I'm just happy with today's work, the way I played, the way I managed my way around the course again.”
Stenson has always been a mercurial talent, with his best form being among the strongest in the game, with a prolonged period of poor form never too far over the horizon. However, he is clearly improving and will partner Phil Mickelson in the final pairing tomorrow afternoon. The 37-year-old reflected on the excitement of playing alongside Mickelson and the challenges ahead in the final round:
“I've played with Phil quite a few times and we've played in The Ryder Cup and so on. He's a world-class player for many, many years, so it will take a good game tomorrow again, I'm sure, if I'm going to beat him. And looking at the leaderboard, it's not just about us two. There's a lot of players up there, and we know this course, if somebody gets hot, you can shoot a 6, 7, 8-under even in slightly tougher conditions, I'm sure better to beat me.”
Stenson, who once reached as a high a position as fourth in the world rankings, had found himself down at a low of 222nd last year. However, he has fought back since then and now finds himself in 32nd. A victory tomorrow would certainly take him well back amongst the game’s elite players, and he reflected on where his improving form has come from:
“I kind of found some form on the back end of last year. It was great to be back in the winner's circle down in Johannesburg in November and then I didn't quite carry on this side of Christmas. Middle East swing, it was okay; it was average. Then I got a little bit frustrated to get going again around Match Play time and so on, but going onwards, I've improved all along and obviously worked hard at my game and my attitude.”
Stenson, who is a self-admitted perfectionist, has often mentally got in his own way at times in his career, but he has now set himself long-term goals to focus on:
“I’ve put down some long-term goals with my game and worked hard at them, and as always, that pays off in the end. So instead of maybe when you're not getting the results you want, you start trying to go for a little bit more quick fix and so on, and then you end up chasing your own tail. So it's been good decision-making, long-term goals and working hard at them and the pieces eventually fall into place. I feel like I'm playing golf with a little bit more ease, and you know, if it's not happening today, it will happen tomorrow or the day after.”
He believes that he isn’t far off the form that took him inside the top ten in the world. A victory at Castle Stuart would take him ever close to those heights once again. Tomorrow, he will partner Phil Mickelson in the final pairing that will not only thrill the galleries, but also NBC who are broadcasting the event for the first time in the United States.
In his 11th Scottish Open, Phil Mickelson has found himself with another chance to win. Losing in a playoff to Gregory Havret in 2007 at Loch Lomond, the 43-year-old has had little success since, but has found form this week on a course that he loves. On another day of low-scoring, Mickelson got off to a mediocre start with seven opening pars, but he came to life with a birdie on the eighth and played his final 11 holes in 6-under to finish the day at 14-under for the tournament.
Mickelson’s closing 11 holes thrilled the large galleries in attendance, and it was also a run that excited the Californian himself: “Well, the last 11 holes were a lot of fun for me to play. The first seven, I was off to a bit of a slow start. I let go of--we had great birdie opportunities there. Two par 5s that are reachable, drivable par 4. I played those holes in even par and was really behind when I'm trying to make up some ground on the lead. Got started on No. 8. Hit a good shot in there, made birdie, and birdied 9 and 10 and it just got going.”
His round of 66 continued what has been an impressive week on the links for Mickelson, as he looks to prepare for The Open Championship at Muirfield next week. The four-time major champion reflected on the strengths of his game through three rounds at Castle Stuart: “Off the tee has been a real strength for me, and cross-winds, it's historically given me problems, and I've kept the ball in play, I think as well as I ever have. This has been nice. I know the fairways are generous and wide but they don't play wide because they are so firm with the crosswinds and whatnot. I felt like putting the ball into play has allowed me to a play aggressively into the greens.”
However, as much as this week is mostly about preparation, the Scottish Open remains a title that Mickelson so dearly would love to add to his impressive career resume:
“Any victory over here would be terrific. We are getting ahead of ourselves, there's a packed leaderboard and a lot of people there so it will take one good round of a shootout between 15 and 20 guys that are right there. Being in position and shooting that good visit our archives at round today feels terrific but I've got to go out tomorrow and duplicate it.”
If Saturday was an indication of what we can expect tomorrow, then we are in for a truly thrilling day. 14 players are all within five shots of the lead on a course than these players can quickly make a positive move on. It promises to be an exciting climax to the event, with Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson headlining Sunday at Castle Stuart.
With The Open Championship a matter of days away, the Scottish Open will provide the ultimate appetizer as golf’s oldest Championship approaches.