Rory McIlroy was content with his day's work after firing an opening 69 on day one of The 145th Open Championship at Royal Troon.
The Northern Irishman's two under par total looked like it would be within striking distance of the lead before Phil Mickelson produced a stunning finish in a round of 63 and was millimetres from becoming the first man in Major Championship history to shoot a 62.
McIlroy had got into a share of the lead at four under thanks to birdies on the fourth, sixth, seventh and eighth but he went double-bogey - bogey from the 13th before picking up another shot on the 15th.
The four-time Major Championship winner missed the chance to defend his title last year due to an ankle injury and has a good omen on his side - the last two times he opened with a round in the 60s at a Major, he went on to win.
"It was good," he said. "I think if I would've stepped on the first tee and someone would have given me a 69, I probably would have taken it. But if somebody had given me that score on the tenth, I probably wouldn't have.
"But I knew today was a day where you had to make the most of the conditions because I don't think we're going to see the course like this for the rest of the week. I think the elements are going to be a bit of a challenge. But two under par, shoot something in the 60s, it's a solid start.
I think you're looking at something at around eight or ten under par that might win this tournament and I felt like I got off to a good start in trying to achieve that - Rory McIlroy
"I missed The Open Championship last year and I kept saying St Andrews was a venue I felt like I could do very well at, so it was tough to miss.
"But I felt like I figured out how to play Open Championships a little bit more over the last few years and I feel like I'm more equipped to handle the elements a little bit better. It's a good start."
