Phil Mickelson tames Troon to grab British Open lead and share of majors scoring record

Phil Mickelson charged up the leaderboard at the British Open on Thursday, grabbing the first-day lead and a share of the record for the best score in a major championship.

Aided by birdies on 10, 14, 16 and 17 on Royal Troon’s tricky back nine, the 46-year-old American posted a 63, equalling the record low for majors first set by Johnny Miller in the 1973 US Open.

Mickelson came within a fraction of an inch of breaking the record outright. His curling 15-foot putt for birdie circled the hole on 18 before settling just outside it.

“That putt on 18 was an opportunity to do something historical,” Mickelson said. “I knew it, and with a foot to go I thought I had done it... and then I had the heartbreak that I didn’t and watched that ball lip out. It was, wow, that stings.”

It was still good enough for an eight-under effort and a bogey-free round, and it put him three ahead of compatriot Patrick Reed and Martin Kaymer of Germany.

All three seemed to be well-positioned for the second day, but Kaymer at least was not getting ahead of himself.