Updated 21.40pm
PHIL MICKELSON CAME desperately close to a piece of golfing history at Royal Troon in the first round of The Open today but his birdie putt at the 18th just failed to drop as he missed out on posting the first-ever 62 in a Major.
The winner of the 2013 Open set a blistering pace in today’s opening round as he finished with an eight-under-par 63, equaling the lowest-ever round at a major.
But the five-time Major winner had a chance to go to nine-under-par with an 18 foot birdie putt at the last.
Yet agonisingly for Mickelson, he saw his ball spin the whole way around the hole and stay out.
Still Mickelson is in the clubhouse with a three-shot lead over Patrick Reed – the early pace setter – and German golfer Martin Kaymer, both on five-under.
There’s eight players in joint fourth on four-under including the defending champion Zach Johnson. Notable players on three-under include Henrik Stenson and Sergio Garcia while both Dustin Johnson and Jordan Spieth are level par.
Rory McIlroy had a decent start as he shot a 69 today. The world number four was four-under after his front nine but dropped three shots between the 13th and 14th holes. A birdie on the 15th leaves the 2014 champion at Hoylake at two-under.
Padraig Harrington posted a solid one-under round of 70 while Darren Clarke carded an even-par 71. Graeme McDowell has plenty work to do after shooting a 75.
It was a bad day at the office though for Irish duo Paul Dunne and Shane Lowry. Dunne, who was one of the stars of The Open last year as an amateur, finished with a 77. His round was marred by a back nine of 42 including six dropped shots in his last six holes.
Lowry, attempting to bounce back from his final round disappointment at the US Open, also had a day to forget as he shot a 78.
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