Phil Mickelson showed his capacity to roll with the blows as he kept his bid to clinch a second Open title on course in worsening weather at Royal Troon.

The 46-year-old could become the oldest winner of the Open since Old Tom Morris back in the 19th century if he can hang on after his pace-setting first round 63 set a new championship record at the Ayrshire venue.

A second round two-under-par 69 took him to 10-under for the tournament, a shot ahead of Sweden’s Henrik Stenson at the halfway stage with Denmark’s Soren Kjeldsen a further stroke behind and he revelled in the wind and rain.

“I really enjoy the challenge that this weather and these elements provide,” he said.

“I thought it was a good round to back up the low round yesterday. I played kind of stress-free golf again.

“I made one or two bad swings that led to bogeys, but for the most part kept the ball in play and played kind of stress-free golf.”

The Californian has often admitted that he originally hated playing links courses in bad weather, but that all changed with his visit to Troon 12 years ago when he just missed out on the play-off that was won by compatriot Todd Hamilton.

“This was the first course that I really played effectively links golf in 2004,” he said.

“That's where it really kind of turned for me. This is where it kind of happened.

“This is where I stopped trying to overpower the golf course, where I kind of accepted playing it as it's designed, if you will, and not trying to find a new, better way to beat the course other than just straightforward golf. That's probably why I love it so much.”

Far from seeing his age as a disadvantage Mickelson reckons that as he seeks to fend off fellow forty-something Stenson, experience will work in his favour.

“One, I don't feel the pressure like probably a lot of players do to try to win the Claret Jug because I've already won it and that takes a lot of pressure off me,” he observed.

“The desire to capture that Claret Jug puts a lot of pressure on. The fact I've done it relieves some of that.

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

“The other thing is that I understand the age thing, but the fact is that from ten 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.

“I feel better and, now that my swing is back on plane, I'm starting to hit some shots like I did ten years ago and starting to play some of my best golf again.

“So 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.”

Stenson, who also boasts vast experience but has yet to win a major, acknowledged that it works in Mickelson’s favour to have won the Open before.

“What does he have? Five majors? Yeah, it's going to be easier in that way,” said the Swede, who said his target was to get back into title contention having failed to do so in the previous six major championships.

“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, so I should be a little stronger, shouldn't I,” he quipped.

In more serious vein, however, the three time Ryder Cup player admitted that he is running out of tome.

“I'm 40. I'm not going to play these tournaments forever and ever. I don't have another 50 goes at them,” he said.

“It might be a dozen or 15 in total, so I better start putting myself in position and giving myself chances if I want to make it happen.

“You know Phil's not going to back down.

“He's got a number of majors already and he wants to have another couple I'm sure, so he's not going to take his foot off the pedal.

“He's going to keep on trying as hard as he can, and he's a great player.

“I've played a lot of golf with him this year. It feels like we've been out there every second week.

“I enjoy his company and I'm looking forward to the challenge.”