Crossword Genius

Spots Mickelson finally securing hole-in-one? On the contrary (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

acne

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'spots' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'mickelson finally securing hole-in-one? on the contrary' is the wordplay.
'finally' says to take the final letters.
'securing hole in' becomes 'ec' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'one?' becomes 'a'.
'on' means one lot of letters goes inside another (as in clothing \'on\' a person).
'the contrary' says the letters should be written backwards.
The last letter of 'mickelson' is 'n'.
'ec'+'a'='eca'
'n' placed within 'eca' is 'enca'.
'enca' backwards is 'ACNE'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for acne that I've seen before include "Spotty skin condition" , "Skin affliction" , "Spotty complaint" , "Pimply ailment of adolescnce" , "Facial spots" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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