It was not just Stenson’s overdue first major victory, it was a first ever for a Swedish men’s player after some painful failures in past years.
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“We’re only just getting started, aren’t we?”
McIlroy said he will not watch the Olympic golf tournament as he would sooner tune in for “the stuff that matters”, but Pete Cowen, coach of both Stenson and Willett, believes the Northern Irishman will be missing out.
Meanwhile, the 49-year-old American Steve Stricker finished in fourth. No. 1-ranked Jason Day, US Open victor Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy were non-factors in the British Open.
Stenson acknowledged that it will take some time for his victory to sink in, not least because of the manner of it. But he can not relax for long.
Stenson and Mickelson traded birdie blow after birdie blow in a remarkable final-round slugfest at Royal Troon on Sunday before the 40-year-old Swede emerged victorious over the 46-year-old American.
“Very impressive and congrats @henrikstenson, Sweden doesn’t have to wait no more!” tweeted Parnevik on Sunday. Jesper, in particular, twice.
“I think everyone on Tour you’ll speak to will be delighted that Henrik’s finally won a major”.
Stenson can not relax for long.
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. After that, Stenson is off to Rio for the Olympics and his pursuit of gold.
For those who witnessed it live or via television, it was a rare moment that will be talked about forever in the game of golf.
I’m happy that he did.
Three weeks ago I wrote in a column for a Chicago newspaper Phil would never win another major!
“I played what I feel was well enough to win this championship by a number of strokes”.
“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”.
The 18-time Major victor said: “Some in the media have already tried to compare the final round to 1977 at Turnberry”.
“It was a great match with Phil. It seemed like it was going to be a two-horse race all the way until the end”, said Stenson, who at age 40 is the sixth oldest to be a first-time major victor. I’ve always thought he is one of the best ball-strikers in the game and that Major championships are perfectly suited for him. “He’s been one of the best to play the game, and certainly in the last 20 years, so to come out on top with such a fight with him over these four days it makes it even more special”.
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This was heavyweight material, reminiscent of the “Duel in the Sun” just down the Ayrshire coastline at Turnberry in 1977, when Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus battled right down to the final hole, and no one else was closer than 10 shots.
