Stenson finished 20 under par, matching Day’s mark for most shots under par in a major, and his 72-hole score of 264 set a record, breaking David Toms’ mark of 265 in the 2001 PGA Championship, where, too, the runner-up was Mickelson.
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Henrik Stenson’s 8-under-par 63 tied Johnny Miller for the lowest final round in major championship history.
In scenes reminiscent of Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus’s epic Duel in the Sun shoot-out at Turnberry nearly 40 years ago, Stenson staved off the challenge of the 2013 champion Phil Mickelson on the Ayrshire coast with a sparking eight-under 63 for a record-busting 20-under 264 and a three stroke triumph.
This was a face-off that will go down in Open history, golf folklore, and it was only at the 14th and 15th holes, as Stenson putted a straightforward one, right to left, and then a longer effort to move two shots ahead and within sight of his first major, that we started to perceive a victor.
The 40-year-old also moved level with Robert Karlsson on 11 wins on the European Tour – the most ever by a Swede – and adds Major glory to his 2013 Race to Dubai and FedEx Cup titles. “I could have gone straight to the first tee and played again”.
“It’s going to take a while for all this to sink in, it’s going to be a much busier week than I expected. but we’ve got a big schedule this summer”.
Stenson had to fend off Phil Mickelson, who began the final round one stroke back.
Both players parred the first three holes of the playoff, two on 18 and the third on 17. It was tough. I knew it was going to be tough, and it was a battle until the end. He settled for a birdie to remain two strokes behind Stenson. That’s where Stenson finally gained the upper hand, rolling in a 50-foot birdie putt from off the green.
The Swede started the day one shot clear of Mickelson and recovered from a bogey at the first to produce a stunning Major-championship record-equaling round of 63, eight-under-par. I’m really happy for him.
“I was not studying and playing golf at golf tournaments”.
“Right now I’m running on adrenaline, but there will be some point when I’ll struggle to make it up the stairs when I get back to the house, I’m sure”, he said. This clutch putt gave Stenson a lead with four holes to play.
Mickelson’s round featured four birdies as well as an eagle at the par-five fourth hole.
His wife Emma fought back tears when she said: “It was hard, definitely, for all of us so I am glad he did it for him”.
“I knew he wasn’t going to back down at any point and in a way that makes it easier for myself”.
The main reason Sunday wasn’t quite in the Duel in the Sun realm is that while Mickelson’s career might be comparable to Watson’s, Nicklaus is in his own stratosphere.
Spare a thought for five-time major victor Mickelson, aiming to become the oldest victor of the Open in the modern era. “I really felt the support here even though Phil is a popular Major champion, so I really want to thank the fans who were pushing me”.
“He golfed his ball better than he did in the first round”, Mackay said. “I’m sorry that it came at my expense”. There’s been many before that tried and I’m just delighted that I made it for Sweden and all the other guys that tried in past years. The Australian secured a two-year exemption and a spot in the PGA Championship, but not the Masters.
Stenson has always been one of the better players on the PGA Tour, but he’d never been in the final group of a major before this one. “I have never ever doubted him because of his personality, his mental strength and his golf game”.
“It’s disappointing to come in second but I’m happy for Henrik, he’s really a great champion”, the left-hander said.
At the moment Phil has 42 career PGA Tour wins, ninth-most all time.
SEVE BALLESTEROS, 1988. The Spaniard was dubbed the “car park champion” after his first Open win at Lytham.
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“One thing that I’ve learned over the years is that the weather can have a big impact”, Day said.
