Phil Mickelson maintains his lead on Day 2 of the British Open

Someone brought up the issue of Phil Mickelson’s age on Friday at the British Open.

After Mickelson shot 2-under-par 69 in the rain and wind of the second round to take a one-stroke lead over Henrik Stenson at 10 under, the reporter posed the question in such a way as to make Mickelson seem ancient – that he’d be the oldest golfer, at 46, to win the tournament since “Old” Tom Morris in 1867.

Mickelson didn’t blanch, nor did he bite. He changed the subject.

“I don’t feel the pressure,” he said, “Like probably a lot of players to try to win the Claret Jug because I’ve already won it, and it takes a lot of pressure off me. The desire to capture that Claret Jug puts a lot of pressure on.

“I would love to add it, but having already done that was big.”

Translation: Take that, Stenson, and Soren Kjeldsen and Keegan Bradley, and everybody else loitering around the top of the leaderboard, with the exception of the defending Open champ, Zach Johnson.

Bradley and Kjeldsen were three strokes behind at 7 under. Johnson was 5 under. A pack of five golfers were 4 under, including Sergio Garcia and Charl Schwartzel.

Some have contended deep into Open Championships in the past – most notably Garcia. None, other than Johnson, have seized the moment.

Mickelson did so in the British three years ago at Muirfield in his 20th attempt.

He is fully aware of how that tension builds with each missed opportunity. He’s won three of the four majors, but desperately wants to add the U.S. Open for the career Grand Slam.

“What does he have – five majors?” Stenson said. “It’s going to be easier that way. It’s always harder to push the first one over the line, I would imagine, than the fifth one.

“But at the same time, he’s six years older than me,” the Swede added with a smile, “so I should be a little stronger, shouldn’t I?”

There’s the age thing again, though it’s never seemed much of a factor for Mickelson, who has rarely been injured, though he continues to successfully manage his psoriatic arthritis.

“I understand the age thing,” Mickelson said, “but the fact is that from 10 years ago, when I was playing my best golf, I’m 25 pounds lighter; I’m in better shape; I’m physically stronger than I was. And now that my swing is on plane, I’m starting to hit some shots like I did 10 years ago and starting to play my best golf again.

“I don’t see why there’s any reason why I can’t continue that – not just this week, but for years. That’s kind of what the game plan is.”

The challenge for Mickelson on Friday at Royal Troon was to back up his near record-setting 63 in the first round in ideal conditions with something strong in Friday’s wind and rain. He delivered with four birdies while suffering his first two bogeys of the tournament.

Mickelson nearly holed out for an ace at the “Postage Stamp” eighth, making birdie at the sometimes treacherous hole for the second straight day.

“I just love that hole,” he said.

Mickelson said he relished the chance to play in the foul weather because “in San Diego we maybe get three days like this all year.

“I really enjoy the challenge that this weather and these elements provide. I thought it was a good round to back up the low round yesterday. … For the most part kept the ball in play and played kind of stress-free golf.”

It was here at Troon in 2004 that Mickelson said he first grasped what it takes to play British Open golf. Until that time, he didn’t have a top-10 finish, and he posted a third place.

In the previous off-season, he said he worked with coach Dave Pelz on hitting low shots into the wind. The key, Mickelson said, was a short backswing that put less spin on the ball, thus reducing the effects of the wind. Before, he fought the wind instead of bowing to it.

His favorite club in the bag this week has been a 2-iron that sits on the bench most of the year. Mickelson said he used it for more than half his tee shots on Friday.

“I feel like if I have to get one in the fairway, I’ve got a club and a shot that I could do fairly easily and consistently,” he said. “And that has led to me playing well in the elements today and hopefully in the winds that we’ll have tomorrow, being able to keep the ball down and get it on the ground.”

Saturday’s forecast is for morning cloudy skies and light wind, followed by light showers and the breeze possibly picking up to 25 mph.

As Mickelson played, there was still the buzz of what he’d nearly achieved on Thursday. If his 16-foot putt had not lipped out on the 18th hole, he would have been the first player in majors history to shoot 62.

Mickelson tortured himself somewhat . He watched the highlights.

“It finally made sense,” he said. “It looked like three or four inches short of the hole it hit something and kicked dead right. I couldn’t figure out how I missed. Obviously, it hit something. So it happens, unfortunately.”

tod.leonard@sduniontribune.com

UPDATES:

11:05 a.m.: This article has been updated with new developments.

The original post was published at 7:55 a.m.