Stinger! 63 Again: Mickelson's Heartbreaker At Troon
/There really wasn't a 62 in the air for Phil Mickelson until the birdie putt on 17 went in, and as I noted for GolfDigest.com based on my observations from the course, even Mickelson wasn't thinking it until late. But once he did, the heartbreak of such a lipout was evident. 
Tiger still thinks about his putt at Southern Hills in 2008 and Phil will remember this one for the rest of his life. And 62 remains safe, as does the legacy of the Golf Gods.
That said, it's still a 63 in The Open, the last tournament Phil has won since 2013.
Where does it rank on the list of 28 previous 63's? Jaime Diaz, who wrote a definitive piece recently on 63s, says this one makes the top 5
After the round, Ernie Els lamented the missed chance at history but spoke of his pleasure in watching it unfold. Alex Myers reports.
**The Golf Channel video of the putt and the reaction.
YouTube version for the rest of the world:
The clubs in Phil's bag for the 63 courtesy of A.J. Voepel.
Bob Harig for ESPN.com.
The big prize, of course, is the tournament, not the scoring record. A 62 might have been huge, but it would not have mattered nearly as much without going on to win.
And imagine how historic that would be? He would be the fourth-oldest winner, ever, in any of the major championships.
