Phil Mickelson said his putt which lipped out to deny him the lowest-ever score in a round at a major on Thursday (14th July) was "heartbreaking".

SOUNDBITE: (English) Phil Mickelson (USA), eight-under:

"It was one of the best rounds that I've played. I mean, nothing will match that final round at Muirfield, but 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. That putt on 18 was an opportunity to do something historical. I knew it, and with a foot to go I thought I had done it. I saw that ball rolling right in the centre. 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 and to -- I mean, 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."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Phil Mickelson (USA), eight-under:

"Well, it was obvious right there, there's a curse because that ball should have been in (laughter). If there wasn't a curse, that ball would have been in and I would have had that 62."

(Q. Do you believe in the golf gods?)

"I didn't, but I do now (laughter)."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Phil Mickelson (USA), eight-under:

(Q: Ernie (Els) said that he was sort of rooting you on there at the end, and he actually even putted before you even though you were away. Could you just talk about that? Did that help calm you at all or did it heighten things for you?)

"We were walking up the fairway and he said, "You know this is for 62?" I said, "I know. Why do you think I hung onto the drive?" So he came over and said he's going to putt first and so forth. So he was fully aware. We've shared our careers together. We've competed against each other. We've pulled for each other. We've had a lot of moments that we've shared together, and that was another one that was really fun. He's a special guy."