GOLF EUROPEAN TOUR:DAMIEN McGRANE bounced back from a recent spell of "average" golf with a remarkable round of 66 to move within one stroke of the leader Angel Cabrera - looking to emulate his Argentine compatriot Eduardo Romero, who won the 2002 Scottish Open - at the end of yesterday's second round at a wet Loch Lomond.

The Co Meath man has had a wretched time since clinching his first European Tour victory at the China Open in April, missing six cuts in seven tournaments after his win in Beijing.

"My golf has been very average the last few weeks and I am glad to be back with a good rub of the green," said a delighted McGrane.

Cabrera, the 2007 US Open champion, carded a three-under-par 68 for a nine-under aggregate of 133.

Sharing third place on 135 were the Dane Thomas Bjorn, the Australian Richard Green, Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand and the British pair Paul Lawrie and Simon Khan after a day of occasional sunshine mixed with spells of driving rain.

The shot of the day belonged to the world number two, Phil Mickelson, who was beaten in a play-off here last year by the Frenchman Grégory Havret.

The US left-hander recorded a hole-in-one at the 198-yard, par-three fifth on his way to a 67 for 138, the same mark as the twice former winner Ernie Els (66).

"I wasn't doing much to that point," Mickelson said. "I couldn't see the ball go in the hole; it was over the ridge and I thought it was going to be close.

"All of a sudden everybody jumped up behind the green and it took me a second to realise it had gone in. It was a great feeling."

Mickelson ended five strokes adrift of Cabrera, who would have been a further shot clear of the field but for a disappointing bogey five at the 18th.

"The end was a bit of a shame but it was a good round and I feel I am in a good position," said the big-hitting Argentine.

Cabrera would love to repeat Romero's win six years ago.

"It would be a great thing for me and a great thing for my country," said the 38-year-old after reeling off four birdies in his first six holes.

Australia's Matthew Millar fired a 64, the best round of the day, to join a host of players on 136.

His compatriot Adam Scott, the world number three, was on 138 after a 66.

Former Scottish Open winner Bjorn and 1999 British Open champion Lawrie rolled back the years to move into contention.

Bjorn was a relieved man after overcoming every golfer's nightmare, the putting yips. "I couldn't get the ball to the hole from two feet six weeks ago and now I'm holing putts again," he said.

Bjorn has played every Open since his debut in 1996, finishing joint second behind Tiger Woods at St Andrews four years later and then losing a three-shot lead with four to play to be a runner-up again at Sandwich in 2003.

The Dane has recently been struggling with poor form and a serious shoulder injury, slumping to 182nd in the world rankings, and needs to finish in the top five to qualify for Royal Birkdale.

Bjorn pulled out of the 36-hole Open qualifier at Sunningdale on June 30th with his shoulder problem, revealing he does not dare risk an operation that could end his career. And much as he would love to play at Birkdale next week, he is refusing to get carried away by two good rounds.

"There's a long way to go to the top five at the moment," he added. "I'm happy with what I've done these two days and I've just got to try to do more of the same.

"But it's tough when you've got a quality field and you are not 100 per cent confident in everything that you do.

"I just want to try to find some form. I'm very well aware of where I am in the world rankings and you've got to accept that's where you are, and that's the kind of golfer you are now.

"If you are about 200th in the world you have to try to enjoy this weekend and not look at what you did in 1996, 98 or 2000.

"Whatever happens this weekend happens, it's not about the Open Championship for me. If I ever get my form back to where it was then I'll be playing lots of major championships. But at the moment my game is not good enough to compete in majors, that's for sure."

Among the casualties of the cut were the eight-time European number one Colin Montgomerie and Darren Clarke.