'Best I've played and not won,' Mickelson says (Reuters)

TROON, Scotland (Reuters) - Phil Mickelson said he had never played better without winning after finishing second in a British Open head-to-head with Henrik Stenson on Sunday that rivaled the epic "Duel in the Sun" between Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson in 1977.

In his opening round at Royal Troon, Mickelson equaled the record for low round in a major championship, and came within a lipped-out birdie putt of setting a new record of 62. His final score of 267 equaled the Open record.

But Stenson also equaled the record for low round in any major with a 63, and he did it on Sunday, when it mattered most. And his final score of 264 broke the record for overall low score in any major championship.

"I…