As such, he’s the first player to have ever shot 63 in the final round of the British Open.
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Mickelson regained the lead with a pitch to 4 feet for birdie on the par-5 16th, only for the Swede to answer again, this time with an all-out 3-iron into the wind on the 220-yard 17th hole to 20 feet.
Henrik Stenson of Sweden reacts after making a birdie putt on the 15th green during the final round of the British Open Golf Championship at the Royal Troon Golf Club in Troon, Scotland, Sunday, July 17, 2016.
Another American in J. B. Holmes finished in a distant third overall, at six under, with a final-round 69.
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.
Even in tough conditions, Montgomerie breezed through the final round in less than three hours.
– It was a match for the ages, more than living up to any expectation.
“I got beat by 10 birdies. It was a challenging day”.
Stenson’s total score of 20-under on 264 shots is not only an Open scoring record, but it’s the lowest 72-hole total score ever shot in major championship history.
Other than that, he was just okay.
Stenson dedicated his victory to a friend who had died of cancer earlier in the week: “Mike, this one’s for you”, he said, before kissing the Claret Jug for the first time.
“I want to firstly thank Phil for a fantastic battle”. “I’m sorry that it came at my expense”.
“I’m happy with the way I played, but disappointed it wasn’t enough”.
Despite a bogey-free, 6-under-par 65 playing in the final group in the final round of a major, Mickelson wound up three shots shy of Stenson, who shot the 29th 63 in a major and became just the second player, after Johnny Miller, to shoot that number in the final round to win a major.
“He’s really a great champion”. “It seemed like it was going to be a two-horse race, and it was all the way to the end”.
It was also a draining couple of days.
“Right now I’m running on adrenalin”, he said, “but there will be some point when I’ll struggle to make it up the stairs when I get back to the house, I’m sure“.
Down by one shot at the outset, Mickelson immediately reversed the score when he striped his approach to 1 foot at No. 1 and Stenson three-putted.
After the lead switched hands into the American’s favour on the first hole, the Ice Man hit three birdies on the bounce to move to -14, only for Mickelson to eagle the fourth to draw level.
Having triumphed in majors in the past, Mickelson looked to be the favorite.
Stenson’s ball-striking was unreal, hitting 16-of-18 greens in regulation, and his putter was scorching hot as he needed only 27 putts to get around Royal Troon. He is trying to become only the eighth player dating to Old Tom Morris in 1861 to win his first major after turning 40.
“He wasn’t going to give it to me”, Stenson said, “so I had to pull away”.
“I feel very privileged to be the one to hold this trophy”. Jesper in particular twice.
Mickelson was able to follow his rival in for birdie at 10, after each had turned in 32, and found himself back in a share of the lead when Stenson three-putted for bogey at the tough 11th.
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He looked to his left.
