SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Phil Mickelson missed out on a 59 by a fraction of an inch in the first round of the Phoenix Open.
Mickelson had a chance to become the sixth player in PGA Tour history to break 60 with a 25-foot birdie attempt on his last hole, the par-4 ninth at TPC Scottsdale. The putt looked good all the way, and Mickelson pointed his putter at the cup as he prepared to celebrate.
Right at the end, though, the ball caught the right edge of the cup, and curled out.
Mickelson settled for an 11-under 60, matching the tournament record he already shared with Grant Waite and Mark Calcavecchia. Mickelson called his round "awesome." He's got a four-shot lead over Brandt Snedeker, Ryan Palmer, Ted Potter and Padraig Harrington.
Five players have shot 59 in official PGA Tour events -- Al Geiberger, Chip Beck, David Duval, Paul Goydos and Stuart Appleby.
Earlier in the day Vijay Singh withdrew from the event, citing a back injury.
That came after Singh admitted earlier in the week that he had used deer-antler spray, a product mentioned in a Sports Illustrated article about Ray Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens. The article said that Lewis sought help from a company which says its deer-antler spray and pills contain a naturally occurring banned product connected to human growth hormone. Singh said he had no idea that it contained any banned substances.
