TROON, Scotland -- One millimeter. A blade of grass or two, perhaps. Maybe the tiniest bit less speed. Or a dimple. One, single little dimple.

That was the difference between Phil Mickelson and history. Just when you thought he might finally be acting his age and we were starting to see the decline of his game, he throws up a 63 that very nearly became the lowest round in major championship history.

“That putt on 18 was an opportunity to do something historical,” said the 46-year-old. “I knew it, and with a foot to go I thought I had done it. I saw that ball rolling right in the centre. 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.”

Mickelson becomes the 26th player to shoot 63 in a major and just the ninth to do it at the Open.

But 63 is not 62. A 63 is Buzz Aldrin, a 62 is Neil Armstrong.

“The opportunity to shoot 62 and be the first one to do it, I just don't think that's going to come around again, and that's why I walk away so disappointed.”

Mickelson was still able to laugh at his unlucky lip-out at the last, claiming that a higher force might have been at work.

“It was obvious right there,” he said with a chuckle. "There's a curse because that ball should have been in. If there wasn't a curse, that ball would have been in and I would have had that 62."

Mickelson isn’t the first player to miss a shot at 62 with a hard lip-out. Tiger Woods had a similar misfortune at the 2007 PGA Championship. So did Nick Price at the 1986 Masters.

Beyond the miss at history, there’s a lot to like about what Lefty accomplished. He set the course record at Royal Troon, went bogey-free around a course that wasn’t playing easy and, most importantly, has a three-shot lead.

He only missed three fairways and also just a couple of greens. Do that at most Open Championships and you’ll have your name engraved on the Claret Jug.

And that’s where Mickelson needs to focus now that his miracle round is over. Saturday is supposed to welcome typical Scottish weather with cool, breezy, rainy conditions.
The California resident actually says he likes that type of weather and was enjoying it last week when he played the Scottish Open.

“I love it. I love it,” he said. “That's why I was here last week playing in Castle Stuart in that stuff, it's great. I've spent a lot of time learning how to play in that. I actually really enjoy it.”

It would be a long shot to think he might be able to post up another 63 or have a shot at 62, but he is in good shape to make a run to be the Champion Golfer of the Year.
That might be the trade-off he gets from the Golfing Gods for not allowing him the 62.

Here’s betting Mickelson would gladly trade a record for another Claret Jug.