The British Open was fortified by the over-40s on Saturday as Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson produced a back-and-forth tussle to turn golf’s oldest major into a gripping two-man slugfest.
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Phil Mickelson has admitted to feeling “disappointed” at finishing second to Henrik Stenson at The Open after carding an impressive score at Royal Troon.
The 40-year-old was looking to become Sweden’s first male major champion, while the 46-year-old Mickelson – who has not won a tournament since beating Stenson into second place at Muirfield three years ago – would be the fourth oldest victor of any major and the oldest in the Open since 1867.
After seven top-five finishes in majors, including two ties for third and a sole runner-up to Mickelson at Muirfield in 2013, this was a long-awaited affirmation of Stenson’s enormous talent and ball-striking genius – he never had to chip, all day – and to finally, in his words “get one across the finish line” at Troon.
“It’s disappointing to come in second but I’m happy for Henrik, he’s really a great champion”, said the left-hander.
Stenson also set the 54-round scoring record for a British Open at Royal Troon, one better than fellow Swede Jesper Parnevik’s 202 in 1997.
Stenson and Mickelson were phenomenal all week long, and in any other situation Mickelson’s score would have easily taken home the Open trophy.
When it was all over, Henrik Stenson pumped both of his fists, hugged his caddie and waved his hat to the crowd at Royal Troon.
“I’ll get it reshafted tonight. But either way, I shot three rounds under par”. He and I have been friends for quite some time and I really like and respect him.
“I don’t feel the pressure like probably a lot of players do to try to win the Claret Jug because I’ve already won it, and that takes a lot of pressure off me”.
The leading pair’s combined round of 14-under par was a real sight to behold and provided fans with an Open Championship which will be remembered for years to come. The short eighth was playing at just 100 yards in the third round and Haas chipped in from a greenside bunker for birdie, one of five on the day. “I’m just delighted I managed to do that with a couple of birdies at the right time on the final stretch”. As such, he’s the first player to have ever shot 63 in the final round of the British Open. I’ve always thought he is one of the best ball-strikers in the game and that major championships are perfectly suited for him. “I know Phil’s not going to back down, and I’m certainly not going to back down either”.
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McIlroy has made more of a splash off the course at Troon this year, mostly because of his explosive pre-tournament news conference in which he called out golf for its lax drug-testing procedures and questioned the relevance of his sport being part of the Olympics. I am going to stick to my game plan and hope it’s enough when you add it all together. What a way to win your first major. He lost that lead on the next hole when Stenson had the first of three straight birdies.
