Mickelson makes it Hawaii 5-9

Phil Mickelson confessed he was amazed to join the exclusive "59" club – the best score in professional strokeplay history – after winning the PGA’s Grand Slam of Golf in Hawaii.

The Masters champion began the day three shots behind Retief Goosen but stormed to a five-shot victory over Vijay Singh, the PGA Championship winner, who carded a second successive 66.

Mickelson admitted: “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.”

Mickelson’s 13-under-par round came in ideal conditions at the 7,081-yard Poipu Bay Golf Course and he could have shot a lower score.

He missed a five-foot birdie putt on the par-four 10th and a nine-footer for eagle on the closing hole, tapping in for birdie and a share of the hallowed mark.

“To me, there’s not much difference between a 58 and 59,” Mickelson added. “There’s a huge difference between 59 and 60. I just wanted to make sure I two-putted.”

Singh said: “After about the 12th hole we were just watching him.”

US Open champion Goosen was third after a 68 left him on 133, while British Open winner Todd Hamilton was a distant last on one over after a 75.

A rueful Hamilton admitted: “I actually felt like I was in everyone’s way today.”