Lefty’s Lip-Out: Phil Flirts With 62, Shoots Amazing 63 At Royal Troon

The Scottish sun shined brightly.

The winds subsided, the planets aligned perfectly.

And Phil Mickelson stood a mere 15 feet from golf history, a perfect round was his.

The 2013 Open Champion stood eight-under par for the 145th Open Championship, he was staring at a possible third straight birdie to finish his round, a round that would make major history — a 62 was there for the taking.

Mickelson hit what looked like the perfect putt Thursday afternoon and he described concisely what then transpired:

“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 a huge 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 — wow — that stings!

“It really stings to have a chance. It’s such a rare opportunity to do something historic like that. 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.”

So said the first round leader who thought more about what could have been at the moment than the 63 he just shot. It was the 28th time 63 had been posted in a major and this one gave Mickelson a three-shot lead over fellow American Patrick Reed and Germany’s Martin Kaymer.

The course was there for the taking. It looked more like a summer day in Vermont and the field treated it like that.

A total of 34 players broke 70 and another and another 16 shot one-under par 70. Another 24 got in the house with even par rounds of 71.

“To shoot these scores, you have to have help from the conditions,” said Reed, who played well enough to finish in the top 10 last week at the Scottish Open.

Reed took advantage of the generous outward nine as did most of the players who went low on this perfect day.

One player who did not perform under the ideal conditions was world’s No. 1 Jason Day. He went out early and labored through a day long struggle and posted a 73 that left him tied for 94th. No. 2 Dustin Johnson was stuck in neutral. The best he could do was an even par round of 71. Same for No. 3 Jordan Spieth. Spieth fought an uncooperative putter and his 33 putts left him with a 71. Rory McIlroy’s 69 was a so-so effort from the 2014 champion.

Zach Johnson, the defender, got off to a good start and his 67 put him right in the thick of the battle.

Things will change on Friday, however.

Scottish weather will roll in and the predicted winds and rain will make this day of birdie barrages a fond memory.

First Round Scores: