The 1977 Open Championship at Turnberry will forever be remembered as the “Duel in the Sun”.
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It was one of the Golden Bear’s record 19 runner-up finishes in the majors.
Both shot 65 in the third round and shared the lead. I’ve always thought he is one of the best ball strikers in the game and that major championships are perfectly suited for him, and I knew that he would ultimately come through and win.
“This is what it’s all about, isn’t it”, Watson said to Nicklaus on the 16th hole when they were tied.
On that day, it was a two-man battle. The next guy was JB Holmes at six-under, which is 11 shots behind Mickelson and 14 behind Stenson.
The epic showdown evoked memories of the famous “Duel in the Sun” Open at Turnberry in 1977 when Tom Watson edged Jack Nicklaus.
Open victor Henrik Stenson, right, and Phil Mickelson walk off the 18th green after the final round of the 145th Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Troon Golf Club – Old Course Sunday at Troon, Ayrshire.
It was like watching two prizefighters battle for the heavyweight belt. Stenson finished the third round at 12-under and Mickelson was chomping at his heels at 11-under. All of that after overcoming a bogey on the first hole of the day. The two traded blows back and forth, dazzling with their mind-blowing shotmaking abilities.
The 40 year old Stenson’s three-shot victory over Mickelson with rounds of 68, 65, 68, 63 came in a windswept setting with cold weather clothing and stocking caps the norm for spectators and competitors alike. Mickelson managed four birdies and an eagle on Sunday, but Stenson overpowered him with 10 birdies. He had a round for the ages in a pairing for the ages, which resulted in a tournament for the ages.
He had started with a 63 to equal the lowest ever round in a major, but Stenson repeated that feat on Sunday with 10 birdies on his way to lifting the Claret Jug. Stenson is 40, Mickelson is 46.
“I didn’t finish the job the way I wanted and on a few of them it was a couple of youngsters from America (Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler) who did some good stuff and denied me the wins in particular in ’15”. Nicklaus didn’t waste anytime weighing in.
Stenson’s 72-hole total of 264 also eclipsed the previous best in a major set by David Toms in the 2001 US PGA and was three lower than the previous Open record set by Greg Norman at Sandwich in 1993. “He’s been one of the best to play the game, and certainly in the last 20 years, so to come out on top with such a fight with him over these four days it makes it even more special”.
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The two-man duel was scintillating stuff, a back-and-forth match that will go down as among the greatest in history.
