• Phil Mickelson discusses his Scottish Open future
• Admits he won't continue to play the event every year
• Doesn't say whether he'll be at Dundonald next year

PHIL MICKELSON | SCOTTISH OPEN

Phil Mickelson has reassured Scottish Open fans that this year’s tournament at won’t be his last – but admitted that he won’t be continuing his recent commitment of playing every year.

Since 2003, the 46-year-old has played in all bar two Scottish Opens – skipping the tournament in 2006 and 2009 – winning in 2013 at Castle Stuart before completing a famous double at the Open Championship at Muirfield a week later.

At the weekend, it was reported that Phil Mickelson had ‘no interest’ in learning a new links layout every year, comments which cast doubt over his appearance at Dundonald Links next July.

And while he didn’t give a definitive answer about whether he’ll play at the Ayrshire venue, he said that he will keep playing the Scottish Open – although not as regularly as he has been.

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Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open - Day Four

Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open - Day Four

“I doubt it’ll be the last time that I play but it won’t be an every year occurrence,” said Phil Mickelson. “It was difficult to get accustomed to Royal Aberdeen and Gullane – as much as I like those golf courses and thought they were terrific. I’ve heard great things about Dundonald but I don’t know how my schedule is going to pan out.

“After playing Castle Stuart three years in a row, by the third time I had learned it fully, played it effectively and I ultimately won. It takes a while to really learn the nuances of a links course because there are just so many of them.”

But the American was in little doubt about the positive impact playing on a links layout a week prior to the Open Championship has.

“I’ve played in the Scottish Open now for 15 years or so and it’s been a real treasure for me. When the tournament moved to links it added a real flavour to the tournament and increased the quality of the field.

“For a number of years, the winner of the Open played a week prior at the Scottish Open and I thought it was an important part of being successful in the following week’s Open Championship.”

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