Day 1 report
The Open, round one leaderboard
-8 P Mickelson (US); -5 P Reed (US), M Kaymer (Ger); -4 J Thomas (US), S Stricker (US), B Horschel (US), T Finau (US), S Kjeldsen (Den), A Sullivan (Eng), Z Johnson (US), K Bradley (US)
Selected: -3 J Rose (Eng), S Garcia (Spa); -2 J Donaldson (Wal), R Fowler (US), R McIlroy (NI); -1 B Watson (US); Level C Montgomerie (Sco), D Clarke (NI), J Spieth (US), D Willett (Eng), L Westwood (Eng), D Johnson (US); +2 J Day (Aus)
America's Phil Mickelson carded a 63, the joint-lowest round in major history, to lead on eight under after day one of The Open at Royal Troon.
The 2013 champion said he played "one of the best rounds of his life" but "felt like crying" after missing a 15-foot birdie putt on the 18th for a 62.
Compatriot Patrick Reed and Germany's Martin Kaymer are second on five under.
England's Andy Sullivan is four under, one ahead of compatriot Justin Rose, while Rory McIlroy carded a 69.
Mickelson made the most of glorious conditions on the west coast of Scotland, covering the front nine in 32 and the usually more treacherous back nine in 31. The 46-year-old made eight birdies and did not drop a shot.
Phil, you made a beautiful read and putt on that last hole, but got absolutely stone-cold robbed.
Jack Nicklaus, who won 18 majors and also shot a round of 63 at the 1980 US Open
Nine players had carded 63s in 144 previous Opens, the last being McIlroy at St Andrews in 2010. But Mickelson's round was the lowest in an Open at Troon.
"It was a fun round," he told BBC Sport. "Yet I still walk away wanting to shed a tear with that putt lipping out.
"I had a chance to do something historical. With a foot to go I thought it was in - I am not sure how it missed. The heartbreak of that is overshadowing my round right now."
Reed made an eagle and five birdies in his five-under-par round, while 2014 Open champion McIlroy was four under at the turn but double-bogeyed the 13th.
World number one Jason Day failed to capitalise on the more forgiving front nine and after eight pars on the homeward nine bogeyed the last to finish two over.
Pre-tournament favourite and reigning US Open champion Dustin Johnson started with a 71, the same as two-time major winner and world number three Jordan Spieth, while fellow American and world number five Bubba Watson was five under after six holes before a triple-bogey at the notorious par-three eighth saw him post a one-under 70.
Defending champion Zach Johnson was six under after 16 holes but bogeys on the final two holes saw him join five fellow Americans on four under.
Justin Thomas,Steve Stricker, Billy Horschel, Tony Finau and Keegan Bradley also all shot 67s, while compatriot Rickie Fowler carded a 69.
Players from the United States have won the last six Opens staged at Royal Troon.
Wales' Jamie Donaldson, who has endured a poor season after an incident with a chainsaw damaged his left hand in January, carded a 69.
South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen, winner of the Claret Jug in 2010, made a hole-in-one at the 14th in his round of 71, the same as England's reigning Masters champion Danny Willett.
Rory prepared for the worst
McIlroy said he was happy with his "solid" start and that he expects scoring to become far more difficult if conditions deteriorate, as they are expected to do on Friday.
"Today was a day where you had to make the most of conditions because I don't think we're going to see the course like this for the rest of the week," said the 27-year-old, who missed last year's Open at St Andrews because of injury.
"I'm hoping some of the weather forecasts I've seen are right and that it's starting to clear up a little in the afternoon. But it's the Open Championship and you know coming here you're going to have to battle the elements somewhat."
Reed staying humble
World number 13 Reed tuned up for Troon with an appearance at the Scottish Open, where he finished tied for 10th in awful weather conditions.
"It was cold, windy, rainy and I didn't see the sun once in Inverness," said the 25-year-old, who is playing in his third Open.
"Today was a lot easier than I had to deal with last week and it allowed me to be a little bit more aggressive with my irons into the greens.
"It's one of those golf courses that allows you to get off to a good start, so that you can get cocky and too careless on the back nine. You have to stay humble."
Rose in the pink
2013 US Open champion Rose, 35, said it was the best he had played for some time, having struggled with a back injury this season.
"The score didn't really reflect how well I played," said Rose, whose top-10 finish last year was his best showing at The Open since tying for fourth as an amateur at Royal Birkdale in 1998.
"Typical me, playing the back nine in fewer shots than the front nine. But I'm certainly happy with the start."
The nature of Troon's Old Course was better demonstrated by South African Haydn Porteous, who went out in 30, including two eagles, and came home in 40.
Not Day's day, Spieth spooked
Day, who missed last year's play-off at St Andrews by one shot before winning the PGA Championship, his first major title, admitted he was struggling with his swing.
"Every time I hit an iron I kept missing everything left and it caught me off guard," said the 28-year-old Australian.
"It's frustrating but the next few days are going to be very difficult and if I can just play good, solid golf I can inch my way back in."
Spieth, who also missed last year's play-off by one shot, was at a loss to explain his poor putting, which is usually his strongest suit.
"My [putting] stroke's been great heading into here," said the 22-year-old, who had 33 putts in his first round, nine more than Reed.
"I was much improved tee to green, struck the ball tremendously well, it just seemed like it didn't want to go in the hole once I got on the greens."
Monty senses danger
Colin Montgomerie, an honorary member of Royal Troon, was first to tee off at 06:35 BST and double-bogeyed the opening hole.
However, the 53-year-old Scot, who came through qualifying, reeled off five birdies to turn in 33 before three bogeys on the back nine gave him a level-par 71.
"You'll see three- and four-under on the way out and then it's a matter of hanging on on the way back," said Montgomerie, a five-time major runner-up.
"And remember, this course hasn't shown its teeth at all. Today was three out of 10. On Friday we're talking seven or eight out of 10, and then it's going to be very different."
Day 2 report
Round 2 leaderboard
-10 P Mickelson (US); -9 H Stenson (Swe); -7 S Kjeldsen (Den), K Bradley (US); -5 Z Johnson (US)
Selected: -4 A Johnston (Eng), S Garcia (Spa); -3 M Kaymer (Ger), M Kuchar (US); -2 D Johnson (US), R McIlroy (NI); -1 R Fowler (US); Level A Scott (Aus), P Harrington (Ire), J Donaldson (Wal); +1 A Sullivan (Eng), D Clarke (NI), J Day (Aus); +2 L Westwood (Eng); +3 L Donald (Eng), J Rose (Eng); +4 G McDowell (NI), C Montgomerie (Sco), P Lawrie (Sco), J Spieth (US), D Willett (Eng), B Watson (US)
American Phil Mickelson leads the Open Championship at the halfway stage, a two-under-par 69 lifting him to 10 under at Royal Troon.
But a six-under 65 from Henrik Stenson left the Swede only one shot behind.
Denmark's Soren Kjeldsen (68) and American Keegan Bradley (68) are three shots off the lead, two clear of defending champion Zach Johnson (70).
Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy shot 71 in the worst of the weather to finish eight shots off the pace.
Andrew Johnston is the highest-placed Briton on four under, the Englishman recovering from a triple bogey at the fearsome 11th to record an impressive 69.
Meanwhile, Germany's two-time major winner Martin Kaymer got to seven under but triple-bogeyed the 10th and finished with a 73 for three under.
Big beasts blown off course
The wind blew harder and the rain fell heavier after Mickelson reached the safety of the clubhouse, destroying the chances of a host of big names.
World number three Jordan Spieth shot a 75 to finish right on the four-over-par cut line, as did England's Masters champion Danny Willett.
England's former US Open champion Justin Rose shot a 77 to finish three over, while world number one Jason Day battled to a 70 to finish one over.
US Open champion and world number two Dustin Johnson had two double bogeys but still managed a 69 for two under overall.
World number five Bubba Watson holed a birdie at the last to extend his stay. The two-time Masters champion double-bogeyed 11 and struggled to a 76 and four-over total.
Mickelson 'better than ever'
Mickelson, winner of the Claret Jug in 2013, carded a 63 on Thursday, the joint-lowest round in major history and the 46-year-old's 36-hole total of 132 is a record for an Open at Royal Troon.
The five-time major winner told BBC Sport: "If I look back to my mid-30s, I am 35lbs lighter, in better shape than I was and can manage the symptoms of my psoriatic arthritis. I feel stronger and in a better condition than I have ever been.
"I can't see why I can't play my best golf in the coming years. I am optimistic about this week and the coming years and the opportunities to add to my resume."
Phil makes the most of it
Mickelson teed off in overcast but benign conditions and covered the front nine in 33 shots, very nearly acing the eighth hole.
It started to rain when he hit the turn and he dropped his first shot of the tournament at the par-four 12th, but ground things out as others wilted.
Mickelson's feats were brought into sharper focus by the efforts of playing partners Lee Westwood and Ernie Els, who started their rounds on level par.
England's Westwood carded a 73, while two-time Open champion Els shot a five-over 76 and missed the cut by one shot.
So far, so good for Stenson
World number six Stenson, runner-up to Mickelson in 2013, made six birdies and one bogey as his attempt to become the first Scandinavian to win a major title gathered momentum.
"I haven't been in contention for the last six majors so it was a big goal of mine to give myself a good chance here. So far, so good," said Stenson.
"I'm 40, so might only have another dozen goes. So I better start putting myself in position and giving myself chances."
Pure British Beef
The affable Johnston, winner of the Spanish Open in May, is a developing something of a cult following. Johnston is nicknamed 'Beef', which prompted fans to wave burgers at him as he made his way from the 15th green.
"My mum, sister and niece are here," said the 27-year-old Londoner.
"My niece is five. I can hear her shouting out 'Uncle Beef' on every hole. Today she came out with 'Beef to the rescue!' She cracks me up."
Johnston is tied for sixth with Americans Tony Finau (71) and Bill Haas (70), former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel (66) and Spain's Sergio Garcia (70).
Big numbers and early baths
South Africa's 2010 champion Louis Oosthuizen had five bogeys, a double bogey and a quintuple-bogey nine in a humbling round of 83.
Ben Curtis, Open champion in 2003, recorded a sextuple-bogey 10 at the par-four fourth, hitting his ball into three different bunkers. He also shot an 83.
The last two champions at Troon, Todd Hamilton and Justin Leonard, also missed the cut after finishing six over.
The weekend outlook
There is a slight silver lining for those blown off course on Friday afternoon, with the news the early starters will get the better of the weather on Saturday.
It is forecast to be cloudy but mostly dry in the morning, with the odd bright spell, but the wind is set to get up in the afternoon, with showers also expected.
Day 3 report
The Open, round three leaderboard
-12 H Stenson (Swe); -11 P Mickelson (US); -6 B Haas (US), -5 A Johnston (Eng)
Selected: -3 S Stricker (US); -2 S Garcia (Spa), K Bradley (US); -1 T Hatton (Eng), D Johnson (US), Z Johnson (US); E R McIlroy (NI); +1 J Day (Aus); +2 J Rose (Eng); +4 L Donald (Eng), L Westwood (Eng), R Knox (Sco); +5 J Donaldson (Wal); +7 D Willett (Eng); +12 C Montgomerie (Sco)
Sweden's Henrik Stenson leads American Phil Mickelson by one stroke heading into the final round of the Open Championship at Royal Troon.
The pair traded blows over 18 holes on day three, as Stenson carded a three-under-par 68 for 12 under overall, one shot clear of Mickelson, who shot 70.
American Bill Haas is six shots off the lead after a 69, one clear of England's Andrew Johnston, who posted 70.
Rory McIlroy's hopes faded on day three as he finished on level par after a 73.
JB Holmes is fifth, on four under, after a score of 69, and is one clear of fellow Americans Steve Stricker (68) and Tony Finau (72) and Denmark's Soren Kjeldsen (75).
Duel in the gloom
Five-time major winner Mickelson, 46, began the day on 10 under par after carding a 63, the joint-lowest round in major history, on day one and scoring 69 on day two.
Stenson, 40, was one shot behind at the halfway stage but found himself one shot ahead on 12 under after birdies on the third and fourth holes.
However, Stenson bogeyed the sixth and the eighth to hand the lead back to his rival, who reeled off nine straight pars between the fourth and 12th.
A birdie at the par-four 13th moved Mickelson two clear, but he then bogeyed the par-three 15th, which Stenson holed in two to draw level once more.
The American then took a one-shot lead with a birdie at the 16th. Things changed round again, though, as he bogeyed the par-three 17th, and Stenson birdied it to lead on his own again.
At the 18th, Mickelson found sand with his approach but he managed to make par after a typically miraculous escape, ensuring he trailed Stenson by only one shot and setting up what promises to be a thrilling duel over the Old Course.
The Swede is bidding to become the first Scandinavian to win a major title, while Mickelson is chasing his second Open win, having beaten Stenson into second place in 2013 at Muirfield.
"I've always thought it's better to be one ahead than one behind," he said.
"I know Phil's not going to back down, and I'm certainly not going to back down either.
"Even though Phil's popular in this part of the world, maybe I'll have a few more Europeans giving me a push and we can get a Ryder Cup atmosphere going."
Should Mickelson win on Sunday, he would be the seventh American in a row to win the Open at Royal Troon.
He said: "I have to get my rhythm back. My rhythm was out of sorts.
"I shot under par and kept myself right in it but I'd love to play the final round like I played the first two and give myself a shot. Hopefully I get dialled back in."
Rory frustrated
Northern Ireland's McIlroy drove the ball beautifully in breezy conditions on the west coast of Scotland but missed a host of birdie chances on the outward nine.
The wind abated as he turned for home but the 2014 champion was unable to make any kind of impression. When he sliced his approach at the 16th, he smashed his three wood into the ground in frustration, causing the head to snap off.
With winds of up to 25mph forecast, tournament organisers decided not to cut or roll the greens before play started, which McIlroy blamed for his indecisive putting.
"When the greens are a lot slower than you're used to, these things can happen," said the four-time major winner, whose last major victory was the USPGA in 2014.
Explaining his club abuse, McIlroy said: "I let one go right with a three iron on the previous hole and I did exactly the same on the 16th. Nobody likes to make the same mistake twice."
Scoring tough in easier conditions
The hopes of a host of big names were wrecked by the weather on Friday afternoon but few of them thrived in better conditions on Saturday morning.
World number one Jason Day (+1) went out in four-under 32 but came back in four-over 39 for a level-par 71.
World number three Jordan Spieth (+5) made four birdies in his first seven holes but dropped four shots around the turn before finishing with a 72.
Reigning US Open champion Dustin Johnson (-1) was putting a handy round together, but also carded a 72 after making a triple-bogey at the 11th.
England's Justin Rose (+2) was three under after 15 but dropped three shots at the 16th for a 70, while Masters champion Danny Willett (+7) laboured to a 74.
World number seven Rickie Fowler (+4) made a quadruple-bogey eight at the 11th, the hardest hole on the course, and signed for a 76.
Colin Montgomerie, an honorary member of Royal Troon, stormed off without speaking to the media after a 79 left him propping up the field on 12 over.
Sunday sun?
The Met Office expects it to be dry on Sunday, with some bright or sunny spells. Early afternoon winds of 10-15mph, gusting to 20-25mph, are expected to abate as the day goes on.
Day 4 report
Henrik Stenson hit a sensational eight-under-par 63 to win The Open by three shots after an enthralling final-round tussle with Phil Mickelson.
The Swede birdied four of his final five holes to win his first major with an Open Championship record score of 20 under par at Royal Troon.
Mickelson had an eagle and four birdies in a bogey-free 65 but the American was unable to add to his 2013 Open victory.
American JB Holmes (69) finished a distant third on six under par.
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