Mickelson's nine ends his Scottish Open hopes

Phil Mickelson of the U.S. plays out of a bunker at the 10th hole during the second round of the Scottish Open golf tournament at Loch Lomond golf course near Glasgow, Scotland July 9, 2010.

LUSS, Scotland (Reuters) - A quintuple-bogey nine in the second round ended world number two Phil Mickelson's Scottish Open chances on Friday.

Mickelson missed the cut by a stroke at Loch Lomond despite a battling fightback as he ran up a three-over-par 74 to lie three over for the tournament.

That was one shot too many to make the weekend as Mickelson trailed in 13 strokes behind leader Darren Clarke.

The American left-hander's woes came on the 18th hole, his ninth, when he drove into a hazard and repeated the feat with his attempted recovery.

Mickelson picked up two birdies after his nine and holed a 20-footer to save par on his last hole but it was not enough.

He has now lost any hope of deposing Tiger Woods as world number one.

"I didn't play that badly, just a couple of poor swings and four penalty strokes," Mickelson told reporters before heading to St Andrews for a pre-British Open practice round. He will now get more than one practice round before Monday.

"I wanted to get four competitive rounds in before the Open but the plus side is that I'll now get an extra couple of rounds (at St Andrews) on Saturday and Sunday," he added.

TOUGH CONDITIONS

Leader Clarke defied pouring rain to increase his one-shot overnight advantage to three strokes with a four-under 67, taking him to 10-under 132.

The 41-year-old Northern Irishman, seeking his 13th tour title following a two-year slump, chipped in for one of his five birdies and holed several long putts. He had said on Thursday that he had despaired about his putting so much recently that he contemplated early retirement.

"Conditions were very, very tough and consequently the course played brutally long," Clarke said on Friday.

"I holed a couple of nice putts and seeing them roll in is giving me a lot of confidence. I've changed my posture and they're going in now."

Clarke is also trying to ensure a British Open start and could make St Andrews if he finishes in the top five this week.

Italian Edoardo Molinari, trying to join the Ryder Cup race with his brother Francesco, lies second after a 69. Welshman Bradley Dredge and Swede Peter Hedblom also both shot 69s to hold third place, a further stroke behind. Francesco Molinari is in fifth place.

U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell is 10 shots behind his Northern Irish compatriot Clarke after a second 71.

World number six Ernie Els (76) and holder Martin Kaymer (74) also missed the cut by a stroke.

(Editing by Clare Fallon)