Saved by an ace

World No2 Phil Mickelson banished any lingering fears about missing the halfway cut at the Scottish Open when he recorded a hole-in-one in the second round.

"Where's my car?" said a beaming Mickelson as he reached out his arms to perform a driving motion with his hands after his five-iron landed on the green and rolled into the cup at the 198-yard, par-three fifth.

He was referring to the $86,970 (Dh319,180) BMW won by Swede Pelle Edberg for his ace at the 17th in the first round.

There is no car for an ace at the fifth at Loch Lomond but Mickelson, who had no luck with his putter earlier in the round, followed up his ace with birdies at the sixth and ninth as he went round in 67 for a four-under tally of 138.

"I wasn't doing much to that point… I was probably right on the edge of the halfway cut," said the American. "I couldn't see the ball go in the hole, it was over the ridge and thought it was going to be close.

"All of a sudden everybody jumped up behind the green. It was a great feeling.

"I struggled getting the ball to the hole with the putter. I thought if I could get to four-under, it would get me within striking distance.

"To see that last putt go in gives me a little confidence because I didn't see many go in and to see that last one go in gets me a little bit excited about the weekend," added Mickelson, who lost in a playoff to Gregory Havret here last year.

However, the leaderboard after the morning round had a distinct Dubai flavour, despite an Irishman, Damien McGrane, sitting on top.

The 37-year-old returned equal halves of 33 to open up a one-stroke lead with a 66 for an eight-under-par total.

A revitalised Dubai-based Dane Thomas Bjorn (68), was tied for second with Paul Lawrie (67) and Simon Khan (66).

And three more 'Golf in Dubai' ambassadors moved into contention – India's Jeev Milkha Singh, who is also sponsored by Jumeirah Golf Estates, Henrik Stenson and world No6 Ernie Els.

Singh added a second successive three-under 68 to join Stenson (69) in tied sixth place at six-under, while Els rediscovered his form to shoot a five-under 66. The South African, architect of the Els Club course, moved to four-under for the tournament.