Less than two weeks on from his first European Tour victory, England's Graeme Storm put on another impressive display to be neck and neck with world number three Phil Mickelson in the Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond today.
Mickelson was thrilled by a six-under 65 after a left wrist problem led to him missing his last two halfway cuts.
The pair share the lead alongside Denmark's Soren Hansen, runner-up to Storm at the French Open and leader with a round to go in last week's European Open at the K Club, and Lee Westwood.
Mickelson was the only one of the quartet to drop a shot, but after it came on the 415-yard 12th he hit back with a three wood to 15 feet on the 560-yard next and sank the eagle putt.
A birdie at the 14th and four more in the last six holes when they switched to the front nine made it a highly satisfactory day's work for the left-hander, especially considering the Open at Carnoustie is only a week away and he missed the halfway cut in his last two tournaments.
The left wrist he injured practising for the US Open has had a new diagnosis and it has made Mickelson confident about his chances.
"After I missed the cut last Friday I went to see a hand and wrist specialist. My initial diagnosis was that I had a sprained joint and that the inflammation was causing the pain," he said.
"If that was the case a cortisone shot would have helped, but it didn't. He said he noticed a bruised bone and that I had inflammation inside the pores and that was what was causing the problem.
"When I found that out I realised that it was not going to get any worse, so although it might hurt I'm not afraid to go in after those shots now because I know that I'm not doing more damage."
Storm, meanwhile, puts his sudden rise down to a simple case of believing in himself more.
The 29-year-old from Hartlepool, British amateur champion eight years ago, has tried sports psychologists and describes it as "not really my thing" and does not put himself among those who have broken through in recent years after cutting out the partying.
"The days of the drinking culture 10-15 years ago when they all enjoyed themselves more than maybe dedicated themselves are gone," he commented.
Westwood had his first win for four years in Spain in May, but poor putting since led him to a Birmingham "laboratory" last week where his stroke was analysed and then changed. After the boost of two birdies straightaway he did not waste the opportunity.
Soren Kjeldsen set the initial clubhouse target with his four-under 67, one better than Irish Ryder Cup hero Paul McGinley, who at 102nd on the Order of Merit is in dire need of a big week to turn his season round. Peter Lawrie is alongside McGinley on three under.
At three under after five Colin Montgomerie, who following his European Open triumph on Sunday is eyeing top spot on the money list going to Carnoustie, was picking up where he left off, but bogeys at the 10th and 12th took some of the wind out of the Scot's sails and in the end he signed (after calling playing partner Ian Poulter back into the scorer's hut, presumably to amend a mistake on the card) for a 69.
Ernie Els shot 69, Luke Donald 70 and US Open champion Angel Cabrera, Darren Clarke and Sergio Garcia all 71s, but 1997 champion Tom Lehman struggled to a five-over 76 and Pablo Martin, making his European debut as a professional three months after becoming the circuit's first amateur winner, a 75.
