Phil Mickelson Video: Watch Lefty Miss Chance to Shoot 59 in Phoenix Open

Phil Mickelson had a round for the ages at the Waste Management Phoenix Open on Thursday. He shot an 11-under par 60, the best single round of his career in any event. 

However, the story is not that Mickelson shot a 60. It is how close he came to tying the PGA Tour record for lowest score in a single round with a 59, a feat that's only been accomplished five times in the history of the sport.

Facing a long birdie putt on his final hole of the day, Mickelson had everything going for him after he tapped the ball. It was on line, going straight for the cup, then it hit the right edge and just lipped out. He was forced to settle for par on the hole and a 60 for the round. 

If you were writing that in a movie, you could not have made it anymore dramatic than that. Mickelson was on fire all day, so it seemed inevitable that the putt was going to go in. But sometimes things just aren't meant to be. 

Don't let the missed putt take away from what Mickelson was able to accomplish today. He came out of the gate like a house of fire, making seven birdies on the front 9 before making the turn. He managed to birdie three of the first four holes on the back 9 and was sitting at 52 strokes after 16 holes. 

Pars on the last two holes prevented Mickelson from reaching the historic 59.

Just looking at that final birdie putt makes you sick to your stomach. On the bright side, barring a miracle run by someone else, he will enter Friday with a comfortable lead heading in the second round. 

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