Hole in one lifts Mickelson at Scottish Open

(CNN) -- A hole in one revitalized Phil Mickelson's flaggng challenge in the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond on Friday.

The world number two was flirting with the halfway cut until he came to the short fifth, his 14th hole in the second round.

Playing a five-iron from 198 yards, the left-hander's shot landed 12 feet short and took one bounce before finding the hole to a huge roar from the following gallery.

The ace was followed by a birdie four at Mickelson's next hole and a three on his 18th completed a 67 that left him at four under, handily-placed to go one better than last year when he missed out on the title to France's Gregory Harvet in a playoff.

"It kick-started my round, I was not doing much at that point," admitted the 38-year-old, who has not played competitively since the U.S. Open.

"I was probably right on the edge of the cut but it gave me some momentum and I birdied two more holes."

Mickelson, who was presented with a bottle of champagne after his round, missed out on a $90,000 BMW sports car which went to Swede Pelle Edberg, who aced the 17th on Thursday.

World number six Ernie Els also finished four under after adding a 66 to his opening 72.

Els, twice a winner at Loch Lomond and third last year, carded seven birdies but late dropped shots took the gloss off his round.

"The course is there to be taken and I will need to shoot the lights out tomorrow to have any chance," said the South African.