Mickelson: Magic round was a fluke

Phil Mickelson tapped in a birdie on the final hole at Kauai to become only the fifth player in golf history to go round in a 59 as he charged to victory at the PGA Grand Slam in Hawaii.

The US Masters champion's 13-under-par round at the Poipu Bay Course gave him a five-shot winning margin over world No1 Vijay Singh in the 36-hole $1million event for the season's four major winners.

"I felt like this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I was glad when that last putt went in," said Mickelson, who could have had a lower score had he not missed a five-foot birdie putt on the 10th hole and an eagle opportunity on the closing hole.

"When I made the 45ft-birdie putt on the 16, I knew what was going on and I was really excited because I knew 18 was a birdie hole.

"To me, there's not much difference between a 58 and 59. There's a huge difference between 59 and 60. I just wanted to make sure I two-putted. It feels like a little fluke because I wasn't really sharp, I didn't really feel like I was practising well.

"It just kind of all came together. The ball went in the hole. I didn't hit it great and somehow I shot 59."

The American left- hander's 17-under-par 127 total also matched the tournament record set by Tiger Woods in 2002.

Overnight leader Retief Goosen, of South Africa, fired a four-under-par 68 to finish one shot behind Singh, who matched his first-round score of 66. Singh said: "After about the 12th hole we were just watching Phil."

Open champion Todd Hamilton slumped to a three-over-par 75. His 145 total left him 18 shots behind the winner. A rueful Hamilton said: "I actually felt like I was in everyone's way today."

Mickelson covered the front nine in 28 and his total included 11 birdies and an eagle. He stood over a 10ft eagle putt on the 18th hole for an unprecedented 58 but his attempt curved left of the cup.

The world No5's previous career low round was a 61 at the Greater Hartford Open in Connecticut in 2001.

Three men in US Tour history, all Americans, had previously carded a 59. The first was Al Geiberger in the 1977 Memphis Classic.

Chip Beck and David Duval matched the feat before Sweden's Annika Sorenstam became the first female to achieve the mark in 2001.