Phil Mickelson flirted with a magical score of 59 before signing for an equal career low 60 as Ireland’s Seamus Power sadly again continued to struggle on day one of the PGA Tour’s Desert Classic at La Quinta, California.

Mickelson needed to birdie the closing two holes on the 60th anniversary of the event at the La Quinta Country Club to join another of golf’s elite clubs but could only manage to birdie the 18th and in the process he also became the first player on the PGA Tour to shoot 60 three times.

Mickelson’s 60 comes also on the 20th anniversary that David Duval posted a final round 59 to win the 1999 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic also at La Quinta.

And while Mickelson was one shot shy of matching Dubal’s feat he will take a three-shot lead over fellow American Adam Long into day two of the $US 5.9m event.

“It was a kind of a lucky day for me in the sense that I did not feel sharp heading in,” Mickelson said.

“I haven’t really had the intense practice sessions that I would like, but I felt like all parts were okay and it just clicked, … and the bad shots that I hit I got away with.

“It was a fun day, but I certainly did not expect this to be the case, but I’m also excited to start the year so I was fresh.”

‘Lefty’s’ previous two 60s came at the par-71 TPC Scottsdale and venue the Phoenix Open.  He had been millimeters from shooting 59 in the first round there six years ago, suffering a brutal lip-out on the 18th green. He also shot 60 in the second round in 2005.

Mickelson did shoot 59 in the second round of the 2004 Grand Slam of Golf and a then end-of-season non-counting Tour event.