Blessed with the luck of the draw – the morning starters played in wet, though relatively benign conditions, the afternoon starters battled against a succession of soul-destroying squalls – Mickelson seized a chance to keep his nose in front after his record-equalling opening round of 63.
The five-time Major champion held a lead of three strokes over his nearest challengers at the start of play, but surrendered some ground to Sweden’s Henrik Stenson, whose superb round of 65, the lowest score of the day, moved him to nine under par and within one stroke of the 2013 Champion Golfer of the Year.
Watch Mickelson and Stenson’s second-round highlights below:
Phil Mickelson's 69 has kept him at the top of the leaderboard after Round 2 of #TheOpen at Royal Troon. pic.twitter.com/YtjGjXwl4S
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 15, 2016
Watch Henrik Stenson's six-under-par 65 in 120 seconds. #TheOpen pic.twitter.com/4tniCn8xRd
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 15, 2016
