Mickelson targets top spot with a win at Scottish Open
Published:With £500,000 on offer to the winner, the Barclays Scottish Open is certainly more than just a warm up for the Open.
And with the opportunity to take over from Tiger Woods as the world’s number one ranked player, the 8/1 favourite Phil Mickelson has plenty of incentives.
If Mickelson, who won his third Masters title this year, finishes at least second at the Scottish Open, he will overtake Woods at the top of the rankings.
Woods has been number one since June 2005 and spent a career total of 603 weeks in that position, of which Mickelson has spent 235 as in second place.
Fresh from his US Open success, Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell is 20/1 to continue his fine 2010 form by winning the Scottish Open for a second time.
By winning the WGC-CA Championship in March, Ernie Els ended a two-year winless streak, and the Big Easy is 14/1 to triumph in Loch Lomond.
Charl Schwartzel, who finished second to Els at the WGC-CA Championship, is 25/1 to win, and another South African, Retief Goosen, is also 25/1.
Reigning champion Martin Kaymer, meanwhile, is 16/1 to successfully defend his title.
Who do you think will win the Scottish Open? Ross Fisher is 25/1. See the full Barclays Scottish Open market.
