Stenson delivered a crushing blow to Mickelson’s chances of capturing a sixth major championship by making a 50-foot birdie putt from off the green at No. 15 that gave him a 2-shot lead with three to play.
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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”.
You must feel sorry for Phil Mickelson.
Despite his own disappointment, Mickelson reserved warm praise for Stenson, finally a major champion at the age of 40. He can’t look back at a mistake because he really didn’t make any. “I played a bogey- free round of 65 on the final round of a major, usually that’s good to do it, and I got beat”.
I was fortunate to watch every second of the final round of the Open Championship and I thought it was fantastic. “You can’t guarantee it by any means and I had to play some great golf to get there but I believed in myself and did a great job out there. I played close to flawless golf and got beat”.
Mickelson was aware of the parallels with one of the game’s classics.
The last birdie was for the record book. After the first hole in the final round, Mickelson had a one shot lead.
The final major of the season, the US PGA Championship at Baltusrol in New Jersey, begins earlier than usual this year, starting on July 28.
But now the first Scandinavian man to win a major hopes the “floodgates” can open so he can bring home more silverware for his three young kids – 6-year-old Karl, apparently, is fed up with dad coming home empty handed after another close call.
“I knew he wasn’t going to back down at any point and in a way that makes it easier”, said Stenson. “I’m still trying to find my bearings here”. I thought anything in the mid-60s would be a good round.
This is what time silver felt even more valuable.
“Phil Mickelson played one of the best rounds I have ever seen played in the Open, and Henrik Stenson just played better – he played one of the greatest rounds I have ever seen”, Nicklaus posted to social media.
Phil Mickelson did his best to keep pace with Stenson in a thrilling duel, only to come up three strokes short as his rival picked up shots at four of the last five holes. They were in the final group for both days on the weekend.
He was two shots better than anyone else in the field.
“I felt like it was my time”, said the 40-year-old, who admitted that the confidence boosting win at the BMW International Open in June played a huge part in his turnaround of fortunes. I’m happy that he did. “I’m disappointed that it was at my expense”. His 17-under-par total would have been sufficient for at least a play-off spot in 141 of the 145 Opens played throughout history. He finished third, 14 shots behind. He came out firing with a birdie on the first hole.
They matched pars on only six of the 18 holes.
“After the second day, I was never going to win this golf tournament”, McIlroy said after a closing 67, his best score of the week.
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That is because of the Olympics in Rio in August.
