Stenson’s final stroke of this major masterpiece was a 20-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole at Royal Troon that tumbled into the cup on the final turn.
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No losers here, but only one victor. But it was Stenson – seeking his first Grand Slam win – reeling off three birdies in a row on holes 14 to 16.
Mickelson kept the pressure on until the end.
“I know he’s hurting inside”, Stenson’s caddie Gareth Lord said. As much as I’m disappointed with the outcome, I’m really happy for him. Throughout the telecast, Stenson-Mickelson was compared to the legendary “Duel in the Sun” between Watson and Nicklaus at the 1977 British Open just down the road from Troon at Turnberry. He lost that lead on the next hole when Stenson had the first of three straight birdies.
Stenson’s 20 under set the new low total to par set by Tiger Woods (19 under) in a British Open, and set the lowest aggregate total (264) in major championship history. They were really pushing me on.
For Mickelson, there was no second-guessing the way he played. On the tournament’s 72nd and final hole, Stenson did what he did with machine-like consistency all week.
There was yet more drama when Mickelson had an angry exchange with a photographer after finding sand with his approach at the last. Together, they have combined for seven birdies, one eagle and just one bogey. “So to come out on top after such a fight with him over these four days, it makes it even more special”. “I was a little bit jumpy and my rhythm wasn’t very good. I get you got to cover it, but why do you have to interfere with it?”
At 46, Mickelson knows his window of opportunity is beginning to close.
As a result, the American handed his rival the initiative and gave himself work to do as he attempts to become the oldest victor of the Claret Jug since Tom Morris Senior down the road at Prestwick back in 1867.
Fellow Swede Annika Sorenstam, who won 10 majors, was equally proud of her friend.
But he says he feels “privileged” to be the first Swedish man to finally win a major. And I put in my best performance today.
He looked like he’d done it all before. He has also been third twice in the U.S. PGA and fourth in the U.S. Open and PGA. “Mike, this one’s for you”, said the 40-year-old as he addressed the crowd at Royal Troon. Mickelson shot a final round 65 (6-under) to finish the tournament with a 17-under score and a second place finish.
This was simply one of the greatest rounds of golf I’ve ever watched. “What a great match”. Stenson held a one-shot lead after nine. Mickelson made a brilliant up-and-down after missing the green with his approach, almost holing out a chip over a bunker. Stenson’s second shot rolled off the right side of the green, leaving him with a 50-foot putt up the ridge.
Stenson made his. Mickelson didn’t.
That was the decisive blow.
But he played some brilliant golf on the extremely challenging back nine, going two-under coming home with birdies at the short 14th and 17th holes. The PGA Championship starts a week from Thursday.
For Mickelson, it’s a chance to get over the sting of such a bitter defeat.
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Henrik Stenson can no longer be considered the best player in the world without a major.
