
So near! Phil Mickelson came THIS CLOSE to shooting the first score of 62 at a golf major.

The 46-year-old claimed a three-shot lead at the British Open Thursday after his final putt agonizingly lipped out of the hole.

Glorious blue skies greeted the game's best golfers as the 145th edition of golf's oldest major started Thursday.

Mickelson was ahead of fellow American Patrick Reed (pictured), who led for much of the morning on the Scottish coast with a 66 that was matched by Germany's former world No. 1 Martin Kaymer.

Last year Jordan Spieth was a contender on the final day but missed out on a third successive major title. This time the world No. 3 has plenty of work to do after a par 71 left him eight behind Mickelson, and tied with U.S. Open champ Dustin Johnson.

World No. 1 Jason Day had been touted as a pre-championship favorite for obvious reasons, but three bogeys on the front nine ensured it was a day to forget as he finished 10 shots behind Mickelson.

Justin Rose had a far happier time in the Scottish sunshine. With the notorious Royal Troon back nine proving tricky in the prevailing northwesterly winds, the Englishman notched consecutive birdies on the 15th and 16th, leaving him three under for the day, tied for 12th.

World No. 8 Adam Scott will never forget his torrid conclusion to 2012's edition of the Open Championship. Today, though, the Australian looked solid, if unspectacular -- coming up the front nine at one under par.

And finally, just in case you thought you hadn't seen enough of John Daly over the years, the 50-year-old -- who won the 1995 Open -- showed off his pins with a pair of pineapple trousers on his way to a four-over 75. Majestic.