Noren sets himself up for early birdie present
Sweden's Alex Noren blazed into red-hot form late on to move one shot clear of the field after two rounds of the Scottish Open at Castle Stuart on Friday.
Noren, who will celebrate his 34th birthday next Tuesday, could be in for an early celebration after birdies in three of his closing four holes in a bogey-free six-under-par 66 for a total of eight-under-par.
The Monaco-based Noren is no stranger to victory having won four times on the European Tour including last year successfully defending his Nordea Masters crown.
"I was messing around a bit with my swing at the start and then all of a sudden I got a better ball strike over the inward nine," he said.
"Mentally, that is always nice and also it helps my preparation for The Open next week as this golf course is a great test."
New Zealand's Danny Lee (66) and England's Eddie Pepperell (67) share second place just a shot back.
Lee had been due to compete as defending champion in this week's PGA Tour Greenbrier Classic but the tournament was cancelled due to West Virginia floods that resulted in the deaths of 24 people.
In a gesture to help in the recovery of the Greenbrier region, Lee is donating $500 for every birdie and $1,000 for every eagle he scores at the Scottish Open.
To date, Lee has managed 11 birdies over the two rounds and as a result $5,500 will be making its way to the flood relief appeal.
"It's really unfortunate what happened there and hopefully I can make a little difference to the lives of the people affected," he said.
The Irish pair of Padraig Harrington and Graeme McDowell, each with 69s, are very well placed at five under par and McDowell clearly benefitted from spending last weekend, after missing the French Open cut, practising at Royal Troon, home of the Open next week.
"Having spent last weekend at Royal Troon was big for me on a lot of levels, and just like that third shot at the last from 99 yards," said McDowell.
"It was a 9-iron but only 99 yards out and I was working on that very shot at Troon last weekend, and it's just very hard tuning for that shot as you don't see that shot very often."
Former Scottish Open champion Phil Mickelson produced an impressive turnaround in form, including holing his second shot at the par four 16th, in a score of 69 to get back inside the top-50 at one over par.
The five-time Major champion began the second round sharing 89th place and looked to be heading for the weekend off at six over in total after six holes but completed his last dozen holes in five under.
"I was very proud of the way I managed to turn it around, especially after dropping two shots early. But then I got lucky on 16 to make eagle and that turned it around for me," he said.