Phil Mickelson opted for pedal power on a visit to Barclays Headquarters in Canary Wharf – but is now seeking to hit top gear on the golf course, starting with this week’s Barclays Scottish Open at Castle Stuart Golf Links.
Thankfully, Mickelson was only in the City of London on promotional activity with one of his key sponsors – resisting the urge to cycle the 447 miles (as the crow flies) to the Highlands of Scotland - but the World Number Six clearly means business.
He said: “I love playing the week before a Major and getting acclimatised. I feel on the time schedule and ready to play. Castle Stuart is co-designed by Gil Hanse, one of my favourite designers. I think he incorporates what a course should be – fun and exciting and some great holes like short par threes and driveable par fours.
“They are the ones that are the most memorable and in today’s day and age, architects are making courses longer and longer but I expect Castle Stuart to be a fun place to play. The conditions and elements will dictate the score. The scores won’t be low if the weather’s bad, but it the weather’s great, we are going to make some birdies. I think that’s what Castle Stuart brings to the table – it’s a fun place to play.
“I am really excited. I feel my game is right there and I have always enjoyed playing in the Barclays Scottish Open. Loch Lomond was great, but playing at a links style course the week before the British Open is an ideal way to get ready.”
Mickelson is keen to make his move up the World Ranking and admitted: “I don’t look too closely at the position. It’s wide open at the top and starting here at the Barclays I will be playing almost every week, in big events, and trying to get a level of play out of my game that hasn’t been there as often as I would like. If you play well, you get rewarded. I don’t look at the system in depth. It rewards good play - and I need to play better.”
The Mickelson family arrived in the UK in time for Phil and wife Amy to watch the Men’s Singles Final at Wimbledon, but he admitted his children are looking forward to a spot of ‘Nessie Hunting’.
He added: ”What an experience Wimbledon was. To see these guys play at such a high level was tremendous. My family is going to spend some time in Paris as well as London and take in a bunch of museums and Hyde Park. It’s given us an opportunity to see what London has to offer and we are excited about getting to Inverness. The northern part of Scotland is just beautiful and I think my kids want to get to Loch Ness. They are excited to go and check it out.”
