Coming into the day, the prospect of a two-way shoot-out for the Claret Jug evoked memories of the legendary “Duel in the Sun” down the Ayrshire coast at Turnberry in 1977, when Tom Watson edged out Jack Nicklaus after the two Americans had separated themselves from their rivals.
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As well as equalling the lowest score recorded in any major, which Mickelson had also done in the first round, Stenson’s 63 was only the second recorded in the final round of a major by the eventual victor after Johnny Miller in the 1973 US Open.
Mickelson, who beat Stenson into second place when he won the 2013 Open at Muirfield, was generous in his praise.
Stenson answered the bell at every turn and navigated Royal Troon to a major championship record-tying 18-hole score of 8-under 63 to edge Mickelson by three strokes at 20 under. As exciting as that final round was, Nicklaus said on his Facebook page that the Mickelson-Stenson duel was even better.
Phil Mickelson, right, congratulates Henrik Stenson after their duel in the British Open.
“Phil certainly has nothing to be ashamed of because he played wonderfully”, the three-time Open champion noted.
At the age of 40, Henrik Stenson is hoping his long-awaited first Major victory at the British Open proves to be just the beginning.
Small wonder that Mickelson calls it the “best I’ve played and not won”. I played a bogey-free round of 65 on the final round of a major.
“He was one of the real good guys back in Dubai. What a great match today”.
Mickelson may have paid the best compliment by claiming that he had never played better without winning, saying: “It’s probably the best I’ve played and not won”.
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.
He closed with a 65 for a 17-under total, three strokes back in his 11th runner-up finish at a major. He now heads to the US PGA Championship at Baltusrol – scene of his first major win in 2005 – with a spring in his step and a chance of victory.
And he believes the play of victor Henrik Stenson and runner-up Phil Mickelson surpassed that of his famed encounter with Tom Watson known as the “Duel in the Sun”.
Stenson began the day with a one-shot lead.
Stenson and Mickelson laughingly lapped the field.
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Stenson finished three strokes ahead of the five-times major victor in a riveting head-to-head duel, his closing eight-under-par 63 equalling the previous lowest round in a major. They greeted one another warmly and smiled at the others successes, at least until late in the round when the pressure ratcheted up and the time for conviviality passed. “I’m happy that he did but I’m disappointed that it was at my expense”.
