Those flat Swedish vowel sounds and that expressionless face of his would persuade you that Henrik Stenson is more of a tortoise than a hare, but anyone who doubts his ability to scamper round the links of Castle Stuart today would do well to remember the breakneck and brilliant final round of 66 he posted to win the Players Championship in Florida four years ago.

In other words, the 37-year-old from Gothenburg can hold his nerve as a front-runner. As well he might have to as he heads into the final day of the Aberdeen Asset Scottish Open with a two-shot lead, but with a posse of rather impressive players doing their best to reel him in.

The loudest hooves will belong to Phil Mickelson, who propelled himself into a share of second place by somehow conjuring a round of 66 from a day that began with seven straight pars. Branden Grace, the South African who won four times in his rookie season last year, is on the same 14-under-par mark as Mickelson, as are John Parry and JB Hansen.

Among that leading group, Hansen and Parry have the extra incentive of a place in The Open to play for, neither having secured their ticket already. The three players who are one shot further back – Raphael Jacquelin, Gareth Maybin and Peter Uihlein – are also absent from the Muirfield guest list as things stand.

Graeme McDowell may not consider Castle Stuart much of a course, but it could be the stage for some wonderful drama today.

Stenson announced himself as one of the best players on the planet with that Sawgrass victory in 2009. He also claimed fourth place in the world rankings, but the tide went out quickly after he had reached his high-water mark.

By February last year, the Swede had dropped to 230th in the rankings, to all intents and purposes finished as a competitive force.

That he holds the 32 slot today is a tribute to his redoubtable nature and an unyielding faith in his own abilities. It also speaks well of Torsten Hansson, the sports psychologist who had guided Stenson through the early years of his career, and to whom he returned when he was in the depth of his slump.

Speaking after yesterday's round, Stenson also paid tribute to Gareth Lord, the caddie who has been on his bag since the start of this year.

Lord certainly handed over the right club for the penultimate shot of Stenson's round. After a near-flawless circuit, the player somehow managed to pull his approach to the 18th into the rough left and short of the green, but from that unpromising position he hit a sublime chip to six inches and tapped the putt in for his seventh birdie and a round of 66.

Stenson had actually been disappointed with his second-round 64. "I scored well, but I didn't think I was playing great," he explained. As a consequence, he headed to the range for a long session, and seemed to find what he had been missing.

"I just concentrated a bit more on my striking," he continued. "It was there again at the warm-up today, and I brought it on to the course. I probably felt as good as I've felt over the ball all season, so that's promising."

Nor is he especially daunted by the prospect of playing with Mickelson. "I've played with Phil a few times," he shrugged. "He's a world class player. It will take a good game tomorrow to beat him.

"But it's not just about us two. There are a lot of good players up there on the leaderboard. We know how this course plays. If somebody gets hot they can shoot six, seven or even eight-under-par."

Jacquelin had done just that with a remarkable 65 that began with three consecutive birdies and ended with an eagle at the 18th. It was the lowest round of the day, although Matteo Manassero seemed destined to beat it after covering the front nine in 32 shots. However, the Italian went badly off the boil over the inward nine.

Poor Chris Doak had a day he will want forget as well. In unfamiliar territory as the leader after two rounds, the man from Greenock could not back up his earlier heroics in a round of 73, although there was at least some evidence of the mental strength he had talked of on Friday towards the end as he produced birdies at the 16th and 17th holes.

"It's Hollywood or bust now," said Doak of his strategy for today.

"I'm going to fire at all pins and try to go as low as I can. The caddie's trying to make me play safe but that's not going to happen. You might see some arguments on the course."