Fredrik Jacobson narrowly failed in his bid to create history in the first round of the Linde German Masters today.
The Swede needed to birdie the last to shoot the first-ever round of 59 on the European Tour, but failed to chip in from 10 yards after missing the green.
It meant the 28-year-old had to settle for a 12-under-par 60, the 12th such score in Europe although only the fifth on a par-72 course.
Despite breaking the course record by two shots, Jacobson was only three clear of the field with Korea's KJ Choi carding a 63, while Darren Clarke, Ian Poulter, Paul Casey, Gary Orr and Spain's Carlos Rodiles were all round in 65.
In total, Jacobson carded 10 birdies and an eagle - despite failing to birdie one of the four reachable par fives in perfect scoring conditions in Cologne.
Jacobson, who finished fifth in the US Open and sixth in The Open at Royal St George's this year, said: "It was fantastic to have a chance to shoot 60, I have not been that close before.
"To only have to birdie one more hole for a 59 was an awesome feeling. It was one of those days when I started playing well and kept it going for 18 holes.
"I told my caddie on the last 'Let's just get a putt for it' because the putter had been so hot - but unfortunately I couldn't do it."
Starting on the 10th, Jacobson began in the perfect fashion with a birdie from six feet, then holed from 35 feet on the 12th and got up and down from short of the par-five 13th.
Another birdie followed before he missed out on an opportunity on the par-five 15th by finding sand off the tee, but a birdie on the 17th was followed by one from 18 inches on the 18th to be out in 30.
Birdie number seven duly arrived from short range on the second and when he eagled the third as well from just eight feet, it was not only Paul Casey's course record of 62 which was in danger at Gut Larchenhof.
Jacobson then birdied the fourth from five feet and had a great chance on the next as well, but pulled his birdie attempt from 12 feet left of the hole.
Another par on the sixth, where he found rough off the tee, left him needing to birdie the last three holes - and he kept his hopes alive with a birdie from 10 feet on the par-five seventh after a poor chip from short of the green.
It looked as though his birdie putt on the eighth was just going to miss, only to catch the right edge of the hole and leave him needing a birdie on the 469-yard ninth for a place in the history books.
But a drive into the left rough was followed by a second shot left of the green, and after chipping boldly 10 feet past, he deservedly holed for par.
Ulsterman Clarke, fresh from two wins in his last three events, is the only man to have shot 60 twice on tour and said: "It was a fantastic effort from Freddie. There are chances round here right enough, but to shoot 60 is some golf.
"I played okay and could have been three or four under after the first five holes, but I just made five pars which was disappointing.
"But I didn't push it, didn't try to force anything, tried my best to stay patient and eventually got my rewards which was pleasing."
Paul McGinley was next of the Irish after carding a 67 to continue his good form from last week - he finished runner-up to Retief Goosen in the Lancome Trophy. Further down the field Damien McGrane and Peter Lawrie both shot 71's while world number nine Padraig Harriington could only manage an opening 73.
Elsewhere, patience is a quality which is short supply for Colin Montgomerie at the moment, however, the Scot arriving in Cologne with his third caddie of the year after dispensing with the service of Steve Rawlinson after just four months.
New recruit Colin Cotter fared no better from the moment Montgomerie's second shot of the day came up short of the green and led to a bogey five, the Scot eventually carding a level-par 72 only good enough for a share of 87th place.