Mickelson’s front nine 30 one of the greatest nines in British Open history
Did Phil Mickelson just complete the greatest nine holes in British Open history? His 30 wasn’t the best score ever, but considering he came into the final round trailing Darren Clarke by five, it couldn’t have been better timed, setting up a dramatic back nine duel between the 42-year-old sentimental favorite Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland and the 41-year-old Mickelson.
Is Mickelson on his way to a Greg Norman-like round at Royal St. George’s? In the final round in 1993, Norman fired a 64 to win by a stroke.
The difference that day? There was no wind. In fact, of the eight players who share the record for the best British Open round (63), two did it during that 1993 Open. It didn’t happen again in the Open until last year when Rory McIlroy shot 63 in the first round last year at St. Andrew’s.
Here’s a recap of Mickelson’s nine. He made a 25-footer for eagle at No. 7 after reaching the par 5 hole on his second shot with a 9-iron. His birdie putts came from 8 feet at No. 2, 12 feet at No. 4, and 18 feet at No. 6. He also made considerable putts at No. 1 and No. 5 to save par. At No. 8 Mickelson lipped out from 12 feet for a birdie. At No. 9, he grazed the lip from 15 feet for another birdie. If those two putts had dropped, Mickelson would have matched the best nine-hole score in Open history — a 28 in 1983 at Royal Birkdale by Denis Durnian, in the only year he made the cut in nine consecutive Open appearances (1982-90).
Stay tuned.
