INVERNESS, Scotland — Phil Mickelson doffed his cap to an adoring and applauding crowd in the grandstands overlooking the 18th green at the Scottish Open, and walked to the side of the putting surface to hug his wife and three children.

It was a similar scene 20 minutes later — this time with Mickelson having seized his second chance to secure a first victory in Europe in 20 years.

Mickelson beat Branden Grace in a playoff yesterday after a tense finale on a wild final day on the Castle Stuart links as he tuned up for this week’s British Open at Muirfield.

After wiping out a five-shot deficit to overnight leader Henrik Stenson, Mickelson three-putted from 15 feet on the 72nd hole to drop into a playoff.

“Nobody likes a movie that is predictable,” said Mickelson, who appears to be as popular in the Highlands as he is back in California. “You always want to have a little bit of suspense.”