Golf:Francesco Molinari fired a third-round 67 to take a one-shot lead into the final round of the Scottish Open. The Italian leads Denmark's Anders Hansen, with fellow Dane Soren Kjeldsen and Scotland's Marc Warren a shot behind.
Elsewhere, asking for a late invitation to the Scottish Open could turn out to be one of the best decisions of Phil Mickelson’s career - even if he cannot catch Molinari in the final round.
Outside the top 120 after an opening 73 the American star, with one eye on the coming British Open, has charged all the way to joint fifth after adding a 65 to his 64 yesterday. Among the players he moved past was world number one and defending champion Luke Donald, but he still trails Molinari by three.
The Italian’s 67 to reach 17 under par keeps him on course to emulate the victory two years ago by his brother Edoardo. It would be only the second time in European Tour history brothers have lifted the same title. Spaniards Antonio and German Garrido won the Madrid Open in 1977 and 1973 respectively.
Scot Marc Warren and Dane Soren Kjeldsen are now joint third only two back. Playing together, they both shot 64 and now lead the battle for the one Open spot up for grabs at the tournament.
Last July Mickelson went from finishing only 58th at Castle Stuart to joint runner-up behind Darren Clarke at Sandwich, so no wonder he is so looking forward to what next weekend may now bring.
He has been trying to win the British Open since 1991 - just as Clarke had been when he finally made it. Eight days ago the 42-year-old was not even going to be in Inverness, but after a run of seven successive rounds over par and a missed cut at the Greenbrier Classic he decided to change plans.
“I should have had it planned out originally, but there was a chance to take the kids to Italy,” he said. “I’m very pleased and excited. Given my three previous events it would have been asking a lot to get ready for Thursday (the start of The Open) if I hadn’t played here. This course is so good at getting you ready for playing links golf. It does not beat you up so much.”
That is demonstrated by the scoring this week - with no significant wind yet the halfway cut fell at four under, only two off the Tour record. “I’ll be trying to make a run at the lead, but more than that I feel like my game is starting to improve every day. Hopefully I’ll have a good round and that will give me some momentum heading into next week as well. I’m excited about the (last two) scores because I haven’t been playing at that level, even though I knew it wasn’t that far off.”
He was slow off the blocks with a front nine 35, but then had six birdies coming home in 30. Molinari was joint leader with Alex Noren at halfway and the matched each other hole-for-hole going to the turn in 32. But then Molinari added a fifth birdie on the 10th and Noren hit his drive down the long 12th into the gorse on the right and ran up a triple bogey eight.
Molinari, who took the lead with a course record 62 in the first round, has been receiving text messages of support from Edoardo, who two weeks ago had wrist surgery. “He said he’ll be watching,” the 29-year-old stated. “He’s probably a bit bored - he has not started rehab yet and is just resting.”
Having been runner-up in last week’s French Open - after a closing 64 - Molinari has the chance to leap from 10th all the way to second in the Ryder Cup standings with only six more weeks of qualifying to go.
“I’m satisfied with that 67. I played really well, especially on the front nine, and didn’t make the mistakes I did yesterday. I’m feeling good. Obviously last week was a good week and I came here with confidence in my game.”
Hansen was in the final group with David Howell in Paris, but shot 75 and fell away to 11th. He has the chance to make amends after a 64. Donald returned a 68 containing seven birdies, but also three bogeys.
“A couple of loose iron shots costs me,” he said, but when reminded he closed with a 63 to win by four a year ago he replied: “I hope there’s another low one in me. If it’s calm again I’m going to have to shoot a number like that.”
Joint fifth with Mickelson are Noren and Warren’s fellow Scots Martin Laird and Peter Whiteford, who is also chasing the Open place.
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