PHIL MICKELSON has volunteered the rarely expressed hope that Scottish Open conditions can deteriorate over the weekend, despite the American scoring 64 in the second round at Castle Stuart to move to seven under, five shots behind co-leaders Alexander Noren and Francesco Molinari.

The four-times Major winner had belatedly added the event to his schedule in an attempt to recover some form before next week’s British Open. A 73 on Thursday left him in danger of missing the cut, but nine shots fewer yesterday leave him in contention for the tournament.

Benign conditions in the north are not entirely to Mickelson’s liking despite the Scottish Open being ruined – and reduced to 54 holes – a year ago because of epic rainfall.

“I would like it to get rougher because I’ve been working on getting the ball down on the ground and that hasn’t been necessary,” he explained.

“I have hit a couple of two irons that were head-high and got to ground quick but it will be easier for me to move up the leaderboard if the weather comes in.”

Mickelson flirted with victory at the British Open a year ago, and has his mind set on a similar challenge at Royal Lytham St Annes. “I think the more I play the better it gets, so I’m really glad that I added the Scottish Open to my schedule,” he said.

“It has now given me a couple of more days to work on my game. It’s certainly not at the level I would like yet, but I get closer each day. I had a point last year [at the Open] where I really enjoyed and appreciated the challenge of playing in the bad weather. I started to really enjoy the tough weather conditions and I hope it is that way next week, too.”

After blitzing the course in a opening round of 62, Molinari could only manage a two-under 70 yesterday, with Swede Noren putting together a second straight 66.

Argentina’s Ricardo Gonzalez and Italian teenager Matteo Mannassero both carded 64s and are one shot off the lead.

Manassero’s scintillating seven birdies in the last nine holes sent him surging up the leaderboard as he searches for the top-five finish that would earn him a place at the British Open.

Peter Lawrie briefly took the lead before two late bogeys stalled his charge and left him three off the pace with Shane Lowry, who was was left to rue a costly double bogey at the seventh, having started on the back nine.

The pair are two of three Irish remaining in the field after Pádraig Harrington shot a 69 to climb to six under. With the cut falling at four under, Paul McGinley (two under), Damien McGrane (one over), Simon Thornton (three over) and Gareth Maybin (six over) all bowed out early.

Martin Kaymer showed a return to form after finishing dead last of those who made the cut at the French Open last week. Resuming on five under he had five birdies in six holes from the 11th and after bogeying the short 17th had two more in the next three.

That took Germany’s former world number one, winner of the title at Loch Lomond three years ago, to 11 under par but he too suffered a disappointing finish with two bogeys in the last three holes.

Meanwhile, Webb Simpson, the US Open champion, has withdrawn from the British Open as he awaits the birth of his second child.

Jason Day had already pulled out of the event, the Australian opting to stay at home after becoming a father for the first time.