TROON, Scotland -- Phil Mickelson came within a lip-out of golf history Thursday, shooting an 8-under-par 63 at Royal Troon during the first round of The Open.Mickelson, 46, who won The Open at Muirfield three years ago, had an 18-footer for birdie at the 18th that appeared to be going in, cut the right lip and spun out. No player has ever shot 62 in a major championship.It was one of the best rounds that Ive played. I mean, nothing will match that final round at Muirfield, but it was one of the best rounds Ive ever played. I was able to take advantage of these conditions, and yet I want to shed a tear right now, Mickelson said. 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 center. 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 didnt and watched that ball lip out. It was, wow, that stings.It really stings to have a chance. Its such a rare opportunity to do something historic like that and ... 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 center and didnt go. It was just heartbreaking.The miss was reminiscent of Mickelsons attempt to shoot 59 at the 2013 Waste Management Phoenix Open. He had a similar-length putt on the final green of the first round that lipped out.This ones going to stay with me for a while because of the historical element of the major championships, he said. Theres a lot of guys that have shot 63, but nobody has shot that 62. That would have been really something special. Im just not going to have opportunities like that to do that. So to have that putt lip out, thats going to sting for a while.But the 59, I mean, I havent shot 59 in a tour event, but I have shot 58s and 59s before at other rounds. That 59 in Hawaii for the Grand Slam of Golf back in like 05, Ive done that, and Ill have opportunities under the right conditions. Maybe next years CareerBuilder, if we have perfect weather in Palm Springs, you could shoot 59 there.But the opportunity to shoot 62 and be the first one to do it, I just dont think thats going to come around again, and thats why I walk away so disappointed.Three-time Open champion Jack Nicklaus praised Mickelsons effort, and then recalled his own bid at 62 at the 1980 U.S. Open.?I watched some of Phils round today and every time I turned around, he holed a putt, Nicklaus Tweeted. To play Royal Troon with no bogeys is a great round of golf. Well done, Phil! I almost hate to remind myself of this, but I missed a putt of just a couple feet at Baltusrol in 1980 to miss out on 62. In your case, Phil, you made a beautiful read and putt on that last hole, but got absolutely stone-cold robbed.?Mickelsons 63 is the 28th in major championship history and the ninth at The Open. The last was by Rory McIlroy in 2010 at St. Andrews.A five-time major champion, Mickelson missed the cut at the Masters and U.S. Open this year. He leads Patrick Reed?and Martin Kaymer by 3 strokes.Americans dominated the leaderboard Thursday. Reed was second at minus-5 after a 66. Zach Johnson,?Justin Thomas, Steve Stricker, Keegan Bradley, Tony Finau?and Billy Horschel followed at 4 under. http://www.eaglesrookiestore.com/Hoodie/ .Y. - New Orleans forward Anthony Davis was chosen Friday to replace the injured Kobe Bryant in the NBA All-Star game that will be played in his home city. http://www.eaglesrookiestore.com/Eagles-Legarrette-Blount-Jersey/ . -- Kyrie Irvings last-minute 3-pointer helped seal another victory for Cleveland -- and the Cavaliers longest winning streak since LeBron James left. http://www.eaglesrookiestore.com/Eagles-Sidney-Jones-Jersey/ . He says so-called TRT is only one problem and he wants to go even further than the ban. "Its about time," St-Pierre told reporters at a promotional event in Montreal on Friday. "I think its a good thing. http://www.eaglesrookiestore.com/Eagles-Zach-Ertz-Jersey/ . The Canadian squad, skipped by Jennifer Jones of Winnipeg, got on the board first with two in the second end, and followed that with two more apiece in the fourth and sixth ends. http://www.eaglesrookiestore.com/Eagles-Chris-Maragos-Jersey/ . The return match will take place next Wednesday. Udinese leads Fiorentina 2-1 in the other semifinal. Napoli staged a second-half comeback from two goals down after Gervinhos opener and a stunning strike from Kevin Strootman. MIAMI -- Hassan Whitesides talents are apparently not limited to the dunks and defense that convinced the Miami Heat he was worthy of a $98 million contract this offseason.Turns out, he also does a very respectable Shaquille ONeal impression.When I met him, he was just, `Big fella, youve got to dunk everything, Whiteside said, perfectly mimicking ONeals oft-imitated tone. `I like how you play. Dunk everything.Sounding like ONeal, thats the easy part.Playing like ONeal, thats now the challenge.The Heat guaranteed Whiteside a fortune, and hes now starting to realize that the teams fortunes -- with Dwyane Wade now in Chicago and questions surrounding Chris Bosh health -- are on his copious shoulders. Its a challenge he says that hell embrace, insisting hes still fueled by so many teams passing on him.Each month hes been with us, hes gotten better, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. And I think thats a great statement to make. For two straight years, hes gotten better. Seems like each week, each game that hes played, hes understanding his role. Hes playing with a great motor right now.Hes also coming off a season the likes of which no NBA center had managed in nearly a quarter-century.Whiteside averaged 14.2 points, 11.8 rebounds and a league-best-by-far 3.7 blocks per game last season. The last player to finish a season averaging so much in each of those three categories was Hakeem Olajuwon, in 1993-94.In a league where only nine players -- DeMarcus Cousins, Karl-Anthony Towns, Andre Drummond, Dwight Howard, Anthony Davis, Pau Gasol, DeAndre Jordan, Julius Randle and Whiteside -- averaged a points-rebounds double-double last season, a truly elite big man is a rarity these days.He is going to be an essential part of what we do, Heat president Pat Riley said.He was one of seven big men to get deals this summer averaging $16 million or more in free agency. Whiteside, Drummond, Howard, Al Horford and Joakim Noah got deals that will pay them a combined $682 million over the coming seasons. Timofey Mozgov and Ian Mahinmi each got $64 million over the next four years -- and they have career averages of 6.9 and 5.1 points, respectively.In Atlantas case, for example, giving Howard $70.5 million over three years came down to dollars and sense.I still think that players like Dwight, Atlanta coach Mike Budenholzer said, have a huge impact on what you do.ddddddddddddWhiteside insists that he isnt just a back-to-the-basket player. Hes lobbying each day to have freedom to bring the ball up after rebounds, is working on improving his outside game, even tried to put on a 3-point shooting display for Spoelstra after one recent practice.But he knows the Heat need him to dominate around the rim, on both ends.And thats where he thinks he can separate himself from any center out there.I can score and I can defend, Whiteside said. Youve got guys at the (center) position that can score but they cant guard a shoebox. And youve got guys who are really great defenders but they couldnt score on a shoebox. I just want to be balanced.Whitesides meteoric rise is a story almost like none other in the NBA. The Heat signed him as a free agent a month into the 2014-15 season, doing so in part out of desperation and in part because he captured their attention by dominating a game against the teams NBA Development League affiliate in Sioux Falls. Not even two years later, hes got a max deal.His game, he said, doesnt mimic one past player. Hes taking pieces from several.I wanted to take Hakeems shot-blocking abilities, Whiteside said. I wanted to take Kevin Garnetts face-up jumper. I wanted to take Tim Duncans bank shot. I wanted to take Kobe Bryants work ethic. And Shaqs aggressiveness.Whiteside was the featured guest at a Heat promotional event for fans on Sunday, one of those meet-and-greet appearances where some autographs get signed and selfies get taken. Whiteside was pulling up to the arena and slowed down when he saw about 200 people lined up on a sidewalk, wondering why they were all there.It took him a moment to realize that the fans -- many of whom wore Whiteside jerseys, and one who wrote Whitesides name and No. 21 on his biceps and wanted to flex for the Heat center -- were there for him.Only 23 months after he first hit Miami, the Heat will go as he goes now.It takes a little getting used to, Whiteside said. But I know what the challenge is, and Im ready. Cheap Jerseys China NFL Jerseys China NFL Jerseys Wholesale Discount Basketball Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Authentic Cheap Baseball Jerseys Free Shipping Cheapest College Jerseys Sale Cheap Football Jerseys China Nike NFL Jerseys Canada Wholesale NHL Jerseys From China MLB Jerseys Outlet Canada Wholesale NBA Jerseys Canada Store Cheap Soccer Jerseys China Cheap Authentic Jerseys Canada ' ' '