After winning The Open at Muirfeld three years ago, Phil Mickelson is back to making headlines at the oldest major in golf.
That’s because he came within a lip-out on the final hole from setting the major record for lowest round ever. As it was, Mickelson tied the previous record by shooting an 8-under-par 63 at Royal Troon in The Open.
No player has ever shot a 62 in any major ever, and if it weren’t for a putt that managed to just cut the right lip and spin out on the 18th hole, that record would’ve fallen.
It didn’t hurt that Royal Troon saw perhaps the most un-Open like conditions in decades — with the sun shining, warm weather and little to no wind to speak of. The course played easy for just about everyone on the day and Mickelson just so-happened to take the most advantage of it possible.
Mickelson also watched a replay of his missed putt on the 18th hole and apparently felt like crying, understanding the rare opportunity that was barely missed.
“It was one of the best rounds that I’ve played. I mean, nothing will match that final round at Muirfield, but it was one of the best rounds I’ve ever played and I was able to take advantage of these conditions, and yet I want to shed a tear right now,” Mickelson said. “That putt on 18 was an opportunity to do something historical. I knew it, and with a foot to go I thought I had done it. I saw that ball rolling right in the center. I went to go get it, I had that surge of adrenaline that I had just shot 62, and then I had the heartbreak that I didn’t and watched that ball lip out. It was, wow, that stings.
“It really stings to have a chance. It’s such a rare opportunity to do something historic like that and . . . .if I had just hit a weak flail-off and never had a chance and left it short, so be it. But this ball was hunting right in the center and didn’t go. It was just heartbreaking.”
His performance in the first round likely set him up for something that Mickelson hasn’t accomplished this year — make the cut at a major. He missed the cut at both The Masters and the U.S. Open earlier in the year, but the five-time major champion should be a lock to make the cut this time around.
Mickelson’s round of 63 is just the 28th round of its kind at a major tournament and just the 8th ever at The Open. Rory McIlroy was the last to accomplish that feat, doing it in 2010.
It was a good day to be an American at The Open apparently, as Mickelson leads and names like Patrick Reed, Zach Johnson, and Steve Stricker are all up on the top of the leaderboard on day one of the event.
[ESPN]
