He also fits the Troon champion profile – the last six winners here have been American and the last three first-time major winners.
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After seven top-five finishes in majors, including two ties for third and a sole runner-up to Mickelson at Muirfield in 2013, this was a long-awaited affirmation of Stenson’s enormous talent and ball-striking genius – he never had to chip, all day – and to finally, in his words “get one across the finish line” at Troon. Then again, his name is on the silver claret jug for a reason. Stenson wound up with so much more Sunday.
Stenson’s winning score of 20 under was a new Open record in relation to par, eclipsing the 19 under par total set by Tiger Woods at St Andrews in 2000.
The birdie on the 18th hole to seal up the championship and his first major victory was his 10th (!) birdie on the round, which tied The Open record for most birdies in one round.
He called his friend Stenson “a great champion”. This birdie gave Stenson a two-shot lead over Mickelson with three holes to play.
On Sunday in the British Open at Royal Troon, Mickelson shot a bogey-free 6-under-par 65 and lost to the round of a lifetime by someone else.
And with Bill Haas five shots behind fellow American Mickelson and England’s Andrew Johnston another shot back, it was hard to see the victor of the Claret Jug coming from anywhere other than the final group.
“It was one of the best rounds I’ve ever played.and yet I want to shed a tear right now”, Mickelson said in a press conference.
“I just wish I’d got off to a better start which would have given me more of a cushion going into the back nine”.
Playing remarkably good golf in winds gusting up to 25mph, both men made further inroads on par at the long fourth, Mickelson claiming an eagle and Stenson having to settle for a birdie.
Stenson and Mickelson were never separated by more than two shots over 40 straight holes until the Swede’s final birdie.
Mickelson kept his hopes alive with a 12-footer for par, then watched Stenson nearly drive it into a pot bunker with a 2-shot lead on the last hole. Stenson answered with a 5-iron to 6 feet for birdie on the next hole to tie for the lead when Mickelson three-putted, only his third bogey of the week.
His biggest challenge was 46-year-old Mickelson, who has won five majors.
Mickelson regained the lead with birdie on the par-5 16th. That meant Stenson came to the 18th tee still holding a two stroke lead. “He’s been one of the best to play the game, and certainly in the last 20 years”. I know what I would like to see tomorrow.
J.B. Holmes won the B-Flight.
Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson are locked in a memorable duel at Royal Troon.
The Swede won his first major in his 42nd attempt, becoming only the ninth player to capture his first major after turning 40. His overall aggregate of 264 is also the lowest ever at an Open, and indeed the lowest ever at any major championship, beating David Toms’s 265 at the 2001 US PGA Championship.
There already have been two lead changes in the first three holes of the British Open.
They walked off the 18th green together, arms wrapped around each other, forever linked by one of golf’s greatest duels.
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Henrik Stenson is closing in on his first major title.
