It also gave him a 20-under 264, the lowest 72-hole score in major championship history. Starting a shot behind Stenson, he took the lead on the first hole when his birdie topped Stenson’s bogey.
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The 40-year-old produced a staggering display to record 10 birdies and two bogeys to beat the Open record of 19 under set by Tiger Woods in 2000, as well as firing only the second 63 in the final round of a major by the eventual victor after Johnny Miller in the 1973 US Open at Oakmont.
Troon: Henrik Stenson won the British Open at Royal Troon on Sunday, pipping Phil Mickelson by producing a major championship record-equalling round of 63 on the final day. He maintained his two-shot lead when both players made four the par-5 16. In a round that seemed more match play than stroke play, Stenson hit 79 percent of his fairways, 89 percent of greens in regulation and needed just 27 putts in the final round.
J.B. Holmes finished third.
He had pars on six holes, finishing with two bogeys and 10 birdies on a day that Mother Nature was finally kind. From there, he made a two-putt par and a lengthy birdie at 18 to play his way into the record books.
The two virtually matched quality shot for quality shot until Stenson pulled ahead with birdies at 14 and 15, on putts of 18 and 51 feet, and for good measure an 18th-hole birdie to win by three.
Mickelson, seeking his sixth major title at age 46, did all he could to capture the claret jug.
It was reminiscent of the “Duel in the Sun” just down the Ayrshire coastline at Turnberry in 1977, when Tom Watson beat Jack Nicklaus by one shot after a weekend of punches and counterpunches.
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Mickelson shot 65 for a 267 total.
