Phil Mickelson believes he is close to overcoming the biggest challenge of his career after he won the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Castle Stuart last night, writes Nick Rodger.

The 43-year-old claimed his first victory on British soil, and the first in Europe since he won on the Challenge Tour in France 20 years ago, with a play-off success over the South African, Branden Grace on a day of drama in the Highlands.

Mickelson will head to Muirfield today to begin his preparations for the 142nd Open Championship, which starts on Thursday. The four-time major winner has been trying to fathom out the vagaries and nuances of the links game for almost two decades and he is confident that his significant conquest in the home of golf will stand him in good stead for an assault on the Claret Jug.

"This is a real confidence booster," he said. "After winning on a day like today, when the weather was difficult and the pressure of being in contention was there, it can only do good things. Adapting to the links style of golf has been the biggest challenge of my career. I've not mastered it yet though. I've been making baby steps in my career but this is a big step. You need a bit of luck in links golf but hopefully I can put myself in a position at the Open through good play. If I could win an Open it would be my biggest accomplishment."

Mickelson, two shots behind overnight leader Henrik Stenson, began his final round with a double-bogey six. He clawed his way to the front with a haul of seven birdies but, with Grace already in the clubhouse with a 17-under tally, Mickelson missed a five-footer for his par on the last to drop into a play-off. However, the former Masters champion produced a moment of magic on the first extra-hole and pitched to within inches for a title-winning birdie.

"I thought I hit a decent putt on the last but just misjudged it," he added. "To come out and refocus, get ready for the play-off and make a four on a very difficult hole was very pleasing. I've been coming to Scotland since 2000 to finally wins here feels great."

Runner-up Grace, the winner of the Dunhill Links Championship on his last competitive visit to Scotland in 2012, also closed with a 69 while Stenson and Danish youngster, JB Hansen, shared third, two strokes further back.

Martin Laird, the three-time PGA Tour champion from Glasgow, warmed up for this week's Open with a tie for fifth as he finished as the leading Scottish challenger in the domestic showpiece. The 30-year-old recovered from a double-bogey six on his first hole and carded a best-of-the-day equalling four-under 68 for a 14-under 274.

Laird has made just one cut in his previous four Open appearances but after a productive tune-up of his links game at Castle Stuart, the former Scottish Youths' champion is heading into the third major of the season in a purposeful mood.

He said: "My major record wasn't very good but I've started to figure them out a little bit. I used to be a little impatient and you can't do that in majors. I think today showed that I've matured a little bit, coming back to shoot four-under."