Phil Mickelson, Greg Norman, Rory McIlroy... Five best 63s at The Open
Sunday 17 July 2016 21:28, UK
Phil Mickelson came agonisingly close to shooting the first-ever round of 62 in a major championship but had to settle for a 63 - the 28th time that score has been been posted at one of golf's biggest events. What are the most memorable lowest rounds at The Open? We delve into the archives...
Greg Norman - Royal Turnberry 1986
'The Great White Shark' got his teeth stuck into a record round 30 years ago and shares the mantle with Vijay Singh as the only players to have carded it twice.
He just missed an eagle putt at 17, then he three-putted at 18, but his seven-under-par 63 left him leader of the pack by two shots after the second round.
"I'm not a record hunter. But I'd like to shoot my 62 on Sunday," he said after his round. He eventually pulled away from the field to win by five shots.
Nick Faldo - Royal St George's 1993
Faldo had won the The Open three times in the six years leading up to The Open in '93 and had his eyes set on yet more silverware at Sandwich.
The Englishman, victorious at Muirfield 12 months previously, served notice that he was prepared for a tenacious defence of his title when he established a course record in the second round which included seven birdies and no bogeys.
"It is something to savour," Faldo said afterwards,
He had to settle for runner-up to Norman as several players vied for the lead on a drama-filled final day.
Payne Stewart - Royal St George's 1993
The 1993 Open went down in the annals of golf as one of the greatest ever. Stewart joined Faldo in the 63 club after ripping around St George's on an epic final day's play.
So many of the game's great names were playing at their best and, despite a phenomenal score, fashion icon Stewart was forced to settle for a 12th-placed finish on four under par - nine shots behind eventual winner Norman.
Rory McIIroy - St Andrews 2010
The Northern Irishman showed what an amazing talent he was at the age of just 21 as he carded seven birdies and an eagle, playing the last 10 holes in eight under around the Old Course.
Golf prodigy McIlroy had won his maiden PGA Tour title earlier that season and made some of the best players in the world look very ordinary in an opening round exhibition.
McIlroy and England's Paul Broadhurst (St Andrews, 1990) are the only players to shoot rounds of nine under at the Open.
His attempts to become the youngest Open champion for 117 years was ended by shooting a nightmare 80 the next day and he had to settle for a third-placed finish by the end.
The Open Live
Phil Mickelson - Royal Troon 2016
Mickelson, who has not won a tournament since lifting the Claret Jug at Muirfield in 2013, needed to hole from 15 feet on the 18th to card a nine-under-par 62, but saw his birdie attempt catch the edge of the hole and stay out.
There was some consolation for the left-hander as his effort was a new record on the par-71 course at Royal Troon, beating the previous best of 64 set by Norman in 1989 and Tiger Woods in 1997.
"It was one of the best rounds I've ever played and yet I want to shed a tear right now," said the 46-year-old American. "To have that putt lip out, that's going to sting for a while."
