Mickelson aces as Cabrera leads field

(CNN) -- Phil Mickelson recorded a hole in one to put himself in contention in the Scottish Open, as Argentine Angel Cabrera set the halfway pace with a 68 at Loch Lomond.

Cabrera, the 2007 U.S. Open champion, added his three-under-par round to his first round 65 to head the field at nine-under-par, a shot clear of Ireland's Damien McGrane (66).

Mickelson (67) and Ernie Els (66) are well-placed, four shots off the leader, but Colin Montgomerie will not be around for the weekend after a 75 left Scotland's number one at two-over-par, well outside the cut mark.

Overnight leader Thongchai Jaidee from Thailand could not sustain the pace of his opening 64 -- but he is only two shots off the lead after a level-par 71 which he concluded by chipping in from off the green on his final hole.

Cabrera might have been further clear but for a bogey on the 18th, where his drive found sand. "The end was a bit of a shame but I am in a good position," he said. "The putter was working very well and if I stay concentrated I'm happy with my chances for the weekend."

Mickelson's ace at the short fifth, his 14th hole, proved to be the catalyst for a turnaround that catapulted him from the brink of missing the cut to the heels of the leaders.

From 198 yards, the left-hander struck a five-iron that never left the line of the pin. After pitching 12 feet short, the ball trundled into the hole to a huge roar from the greenside gallery.

The ace was followed by a birdie four at Mickelson's next hole and a three on his 18th completed a round that left him brimming with optimism about his chances over the weekend.

"I think we saw a couple of guys shooting low today so if I can get a hot putter and shoot six, seven or eight-under tomorrow, I should be right in it for Sunday," said the world number two.

Els had been so frustrated by his opening 72 that he had suggested he might as well not turn up on Friday. In fact, the South African displayed flashes of his best form as he bagged seven birdies in his five-under-par round.

"I'll need to shoot the lights out to have a chance of winning but I'm just glad to be around for the weekend," he said. "Now I can really start building on my game."

With Montgomerie gone, Paul Lawrie, the 1999 British Open champion, gave the home fans something to cheer about by adding a second round 68 to his opening 67 to stand two shots off the lead in a group that included Thongchai, Dane Thomas Bjorn (68), Simon Khan and Australian left-hander Richard Green.