Phil Mickelson wins Round 1 British Open 2016 12:00, 15/07/2016

History was on the line in the opening round of the 145th Open Championship at Royal Troon.

And then it lipped out.
Phil Mickelson came thisclose to draining a birdie putt on the 18th green for a 62, which would have been the lowest round ever recorded in major championship history. He settled instead for a 63, becoming the 26th player to go that low on so grand a stage.

: (Source: Internet)

“I saw that ball rolling right in the center,” Mickelson said. “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.”

Phil Mickelson came SO close to a low major score of 62 #TheOpen pic.twitter.com/n91YpkelLG

— The Open (@TheOpen) Ngày 14 tháng 07 năm 2016

After luckily skirting the pot bunkers left of the fairway with his drive on 18, Mickelson knocked his approach onto the center of the putting surface, 18 feet right of the hole. While walking up the fairway on a flawless day on the rumpled linksland, Ernie Els, one of Mickelson’s playing partners, offered encouragement.
“Come on buddy, you gotta make this putt for a 62. A lot of guys have tried,” Els said.

: Phil Mickelson's Scorecard (Source: The Open Twitter)

Three back of Mickelson is Patrick Reed, who shot a five-under 66 in the morning and sat on the lead most of the day, until Mickelson surged ahead in his closing holes. Two-time major champion Martin Kaymer matched Reed’s 66. Seven players are log-jammed at four under, including defending champion Zach Johnson, British Open rookie Justin Thomas and 49-year-old Steve Stricker.

: Patrick Reed (Source: Internet)

The Big Four were mostly a Big Snore. Rory McIlroy came out firing with four birdies on the easier outward nine, but came home in 37 to post a two-under 69. White-hot Dustin Johnson cooled off with a 71, a score matched by Jordan Spieth. And World No. 1 Jason Day struggled to a 73.