When Johnny Miller fired a 63 in the final round of the 1973 U.S. Open at Oakmont, he was the first player to go that low in any round of a major championship. Since then, 22 players have shot a 63 in a major.

On Thursday, the 21-year-old Rory McIlroy became the youngest to do it with his 9-under-par score at the Old Course at St. Andrews. He could have shot a record 62, but missed a 5-foot putt for birdie at the infamous Road Hole, No. 17.

McIlroy jump-started his round when he drove the 352-yard 9^th hole, a par 4, and made the putt for an eagle. Then he made six birdies on the back nine, tying the tournament record (30) for the inward half.

So how have players fared who have shot 63 in the first round a major. Here’s the list:

 

1980 – Tom Weiskopf (U.S. Open)         37th

1980 – Jack Nicklaus (U.S. Open)          Won

1982 – Raymond Floyd (PGA)               Won

1995 – Michael Bradley (PGA)               T54

1996 – Greg Norman (Masters)               2^nd

 

Shot 63 in the second round of a major:

1975 – Bruce Crampton (PGA)               2^nd

1977 – Mark Hayes (British)                  T9

1984 – Gary Player (PGA)                     T2

1986 – Greg Norman (British)               Won

1993 – Nick Faldo (British)                    2^nd

1993 – Vijay Singh (PGA)                     4^th

2001 – Mark O’Meara (PGA)                 T22

2003 – Vijay Singh (U.S. Open)            T20

2007 – Tiger Woods (PGA)                  Won

 

Shot 63 in the third round of a major:

1980 -- Isao Aoki (British)                  T12

1986 – Nick Price Masters)                   5^th

1990 – Paul Broadhurst (British)           T12

2000 – Jose Maria Olazabal (PGA)         T4

2005 – Thomas Bjorn (PGA)                 T2

 

Shot 63 in the fourth round of a major:

1973 – Johnny Miller (U.S. Open)          Won

1991 – Jodie Mudd (British)                  T5

1993 – Payne Stewart (British)             12th

1995 -- Brad Faxon (PGA)                   5th