Mickelson flirts with 59, settles for 60

Phil Mickelson came tantalizingly close to shooting golf's magic number of 59 on Thursday, but came up with a 60 in the first round of the US PGA Tour Phoenix Open. His long birdie attempt at his final hole of the day -- TPC Scottsdale's par-four ninth -- curled around the rim of the cup but didn't drop. "You don't have chances to shoot 59 often," Mickelson said. "To have that putt on line -- I'm kind of mortified that it didn't go in." Only five golfers have carded 59s on the US PGA Tour, most recently Australian Stuart Appleby in the 2010 Greenbrier Classic. Paul Goydos also accomplished the feat in 2010 at the John Deere Classic. Al Geiberger (1977), Chip Beck (1991) and David Duval (1999) have also posted 59s on the US tour. Mickelson's 11-under par 60 gave him a four-stroke clubhouse lead. From AFP