The Open 2016: Leader Phil Mickelson believes the ‘golf gods’ will hand him victory at Royal Troon
Lefty believes trend of American winners at Scottish links will continue with him becoming the seventh in a row
PHIL MICKELSON believes the "golf gods" will hand him victory at Royal Troon.
Americans have won the past six Opens on the Scottish links and Lefty stands to become the seventh after building a one shot lead through two rounds.
He joked that higher powers were against him shooting the lowest score in Major championship history when his putt for a 62 lipped-out last night.
But now Mickelson reckons they are back on his side in the quest for a second Claret Jug.
Asked about the influence of the gods and American winners at Troon, he smiled and said: "I think that, again, that's probably due to the gods, and I would expect them to be consistent."
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Mickelson added a two-under 69 to yesterday's course record 63 for a ten under par total through two rounds, one ahead of Swede Henrik Stenson.
And after struggling to get to grips with links golf for years, Lefty said this was the course that turned his career around and allowed him to contend.
The 2013 champ added: "This was the first course that I really played effectively links golf in 2004. That's where it really kind of turned for me.
"This is where it kind of happened. This is where I stopped trying to overpower the golf course, where I kind of accepted playing it as it's designed, and not trying to find a new, better way to beat the course other than just straightforward golf. That's probably why I love it so much."