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“So the win in Germany a couple of weeks ago was huge to get one over the finish line”.
On Sunday, it gave him something money can not buy – a greenside seat as he watched the Swede defeat Phil Mickelson to become Open champion on an enthralling last day at Royal Troon. “The golf from Phil and Henrik was phenomenal”.
Phil Mickelson and Henrik Stenson following Sunday’s final round at the British Open. Stenson hit his approach on the par-5 fourth hole onto the green for a two-putt birdie. It turned into the most entertaining final round I’ve ever watched.
But Stenson also equalled the record for low round in any major with a 63, and he did it on Sunday, when it mattered most.
“Right now I’m running on adrenaline”.
“I hope I can perform well and, hopefully, get one of the medals and, hopefully, the best one to bring home”. And I got beat.
In his mind, those were U.S. Open titles he frittered away. What is different about the two is that Stenson was going head-to-head with Mickelson for the title nearly in a matchplay situation, whereas Miller was coming from the pack and arguably playing like he had nothing to lose. He came out firing with a birdie on the first hole.
The last birdie was for the record book.
Mickelson’s 17-under total would have won all but two Opens over the last century.
“I don’t have a point where I can look back and say, I should have done that or had I only done this”. I had to keep on pushing, giving myself birdie chances. I think he’ll continue to defy time.
“Some. have already tried to compare (the) final round to 1977 at Turnberry, with Tom Watson and me in what they called the “Duel in the Sun”.
The 40-year-old Swede wore down Phil Mickelson in an epic battle to clinch the Claret Jug at Royal Troon, and is looking to add to his fledgling major haul and perhaps throw in an Olympic gold medal and the Ryder Cup in the next few weeks.
Each time one lifted the bar, the other matched or bettered it.
“A 65 in the final round of a major is usually good enough to win”, Mickelson said.
As Lord told reporters after the round, “That’s when I knew how obviously up for it he was, how much he fancied himself. I’m happy for him”. “I’m disappointed that it was at my expense”.
His score of 267 was 11 strokes better than third-place J.B. He finished third, 14 shots behind.
They matched pars on only six of the 18 holes. Beating the former best Open score of 19-under by Tiger Woods.
Correspondence came late Sunday night via Jack Nicklaus’ Facebook account.
“And of course I’m going to be out there trying my hardest in a week’s time at the PGA”.
“He sent me a message, “Go out and finish what I didn’t manage to finish”, and I’m really proud to have done that”.
That is due to the August Olympics in Rio.
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Stenson is a popular champion, though his career has been slowed by two slumps, and the 40-year-old Swede had never won a major.
