Even at age 46, Phil Mickelson has still got it. But he didn’t have enough to overcome the hex of the major championship 63.

Before Thursday, 27 times a player had shot 63 exactly in a major, but none had gone lower. Jack Nicklaus missed a 3-footer to shoot 62. Nick Price had a 25-foot putt horseshoe out for his own. And Tiger Woods, from about half Price’s distance, fell into the same fate.

But in came Mickelson during the first round of the 2016 British Open, going out in 4-under 32 and making the difficult back nine at Royal Troon look like a cinch with birdies at 10, 14, 16 and 17. He was suddenly 8 under with a 20-foot birdie putt on 18 for a 62 and the whole way the putt was going in and Phil was going to make history and – wait, what?

Phil Mickelson came SO close to a low major score of 62 #TheOpen pic.twitter.com/n91YpkelLG

— The Open (@TheOpen) July 14, 2016

No. Way. It happened again. A 62 once more eluded a golfer in torturous fashion. Mickelson was certain he had made the putt, until he didn’t.

“It was right in the center of the hole with a foot to go,” Mickelson said.

Not only was it reminiscent of Price and Woods, but also of Mickelson himself when his putt for 59 during the first round of the 2013 Waste Management Phoenix Open lipped out similarly.

In the end, it was still a magical day, and Mickelson made it the 28th occasion of a major 63. He also holds a three-shot lead on the field after Round One. But the what could have been will linger for a bit.

“I feel like I played one of the best rounds in my life but I feel like crying,” Mickelson said.

– Kevin Casey