Mickelson carded 8 under par 63 at Royal Troon and narrowly fell short of creating history.

Lefty’s birdie putt on the 18th somewhat didn’t drop, which would have taken him to nine under par and would have seen him shoot the lowest ever score at any major.

The 46-year-old said the putt which would have created history was heartbreaking.

It was one of the best rounds I've ever played and I was able to take advantage of these conditions and yet I want to shed a tear right now," said Mickelson.

"I went to go get it, I had that surge of adrenaline that I had just shot 62 and then I had the heartbreak that I didn't and watched that ball lip out. It was - wow - that stings.

"It really stings to have a chance. It's such a rare opportunity to do something historic like that. If I had just hit a weak flail-off and never had a chance and left it short, so be it. 

"But this ball was hunting right in the centre and didn't go. It was just heartbreaking."

Mickelson holds a three-stroke lead over his countryman Patrick Reed and Germany’s Martin Kaymer.

Meanwhile, the first hole-in-one of the tournament belongs to South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen.

King Louis aced the par three 14th to take him to level par for the round.

It’s also his second ace at a major this year after scoring out at the Masters at Augusta in April.

On three under par, Richard Sterne, is the leading South African in the field, while Zander Lombard carded two under during his first ever Open appearance.

Morgan Piek/OFM News