He was left with a 20-foot putt for birdie on 18 to shoot 62, but the ball took a late, hard right break and skimming around the hole.
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Mickelson, along with Ernie Els, a two-time Open victor, and Lee Westwood, didn’t tee off until 1:15 p.m., British time, more than six hours after Colin Montgomerie, whose father once was club secretary at Troon, hit the first shot of the day. And then his ball lipped out. “Oh my god”, he mouthed in horror before covering his face in his hands.
Mickelson said he realized he could shoot 62 if he birdied the last two holes. 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’m hoping some of the weather forecasts I’ve seen are right and it’s starting to clear up a little in the afternoon”, McIlroy remarked with his fingers crossed. “It was, wow, that stinks”, he said.
“If I had just hit a weak flail-off and never had a chance and left it short, so be it”. It was just heartbreaking. “There’s a curse because that ball should have been in”.
It was no consolation to the 46-year-old that he is only the 26th player to shoot 63.
Let’s just call them the 62 and a half club.
Royal Troon doesn’t look anything like Phil Mickelson remembers from his near-historic opening round in the British Open. This is his first major since the PGA Championship past year, and his first British Open since 2012. Americans: over here, over paid and under par.
FOR all the talk of Royal Troon playing easy on day one of the 145 Open Championship, the numbers tell a somewhat different story.
The five-times major victor took full advantage of a calm, sunny day on the west coast of Scotland by reeling off eight birdies in a remarkable burst of scoring on Thursday (Friday NZ time).
Fowler finished with three birdies and two bogeys in a much-needed good start after missing the cut in the season’s first two majors.
Instead, Mickelson settled for the 28th round of 63 in a major golf championship.
Former Auburn player Blayne Barber was a stroke back at 66 along with Martin Laird, Ben Crane, Shawn Stefani, Matt Bettencourt, Michael Kim and Lucas Lee.
The best finis from a Brit came from Andy Sullivan, with the Englishman shooting a tidy round of 67 that included seven birdies.
“That was one of the best rounds I’ve ever played yet I want to shed a tear now”, 2013 British Open victor Mickelson told reporters after his eight-under 63 left him three strokes clear of the field. “It was a great honor for me and the members at Troon”, Montgomerie said, “that I kicked it off this morning”. Jordan Spieth already has two major titles.
His second shot from 179 yards landed softly on the center of the green and he walked with Ernie Els up the fairway with a full smile to the roaring applause normally reserved for Sunday’s leader pacing to claim the Claret Jug. He has cultivated a feisty relationship with spectators particularly at the Ryder Cup.
“We were walking up the fairway and he said, ‘You know this is for a 62?'”, added the American.
On Thursday, the front nine played about a stroke under par to the field. With a foot to go I thought I had done it.
“That’s a good sign hopefully”, said Lahiri, who is making his fourth appearance at The Open. “Here it seems like it’s just golf and then just kind of relax, have some fun”. Rory McIlroy was the best of them at three under.
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Defending champion Zach Johnson is among a group of eight players on four under, although he bogeyed the final two holes to take the gloss off an excellent day, while Justin Rose (68) and Rory McIlroy (69) both enjoyed encouraging starts.
