Henrik Stenson of Sweden takes his club prior to hitting his tee shot at the 12th hole during the final round of the British Open Golf Championship at the Royal Troon Golf Club in Troon, Scotland, Sunday, July 17, 2016.
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Troon. – Henrik Stenson emerged victorious from a titanic duel with Phil Mickelson to win the 145th Open Championship at Royal Troon yesterday after firing a final round of 63 that equalled the lowest round score in major history.
Mickelson shot a bogey-free, 6-under 65, and still finished three shots behind.
Phil Mickelson admitted there was not much more he could have done after being denied British Open glory by Henrik Stenson at Royal Troon on Sunday.
McIlroy had not given up hope of securing a second Open title despite starting the day eight shots off the lead, but never threatened to make a charge after carding three bogeys in the first five holes.
Stenson claimed the claret jug, a major champion for the first time at age 40. “I know Phil’s not going to back down, and I’m certainly not going to back down either”.
The 40-year-old becomes the first Scandinavian player to win a major title, and he was only the second in history to fire a final-day 63 to do so – emulating the feat of Johnny Miller when he stormed to the US Open title at Oakmont in 1973.
“I knew he wasn’t going to back down at any point”, said Stenson, whose 20-under 264 beat the scoring mark of 265 that David Toms set at the 2001 PGA Championship and was three shots better than anyone had ever shot in the Open.
Steve Stricker, 49, turned in another solid round, shooting a 68, and he sits tied for sixth at 3-under, one shot behind J.B. Holmes, who shot a 69 for a 4-under total. “Played close to flawless golf and was beat”.
“There’s only one thing that matters tomorrow”, Stenson said. Meantime, the top players who won’t be at Rio (including defending PGA victor Jason Day), will be at Baltusrol, meaning a tournament that celebrates the PGA’s 100th anniversary could be considered more compelling than whatever transpires in golf’s first appearance in the Olympics since 1904 in St. Louis.
His partner Mickelson was long associated with near misses at majors before winning the Masters in 2004, and he has now won five of them.
“This will take a while to sink in, I am still getting my bearings”, said Stenson soon after his victory.
Mickelson led only once, a two-shot swing on the opening hole. Two holes later, Mickelson was in danger of losing the lead when he pushed his 2-iron toward trouble and was fortunate the ball deflected off a piece of prickly gorse.
Andrew “Beef” Johnston was in third place on his own at one point after three early birdies, but faded away with four bogeys in the final 11 holes.
Like two prize fighters in a ring, the men traded blow after stunning blow, reeling off birdie after birdie to turn the last day of golf’s oldest major into a two-way procession.
Bill Haas, a six-time victor on the PGA Tour who is rarely heard from at majors, was solid with a 69 and alone in third.
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“Yeah, he’s always been there as a big supporter of mine, in good days and bad days, sending me messages and support”, Stenson in his post-Open press conference. No one else is within six shots of the lead.
