Keeping his press session short and sweet after a cold, occasionally wet day at Royal Troon, the 2013 Open victor offered a blunt assessment of what needs repairing heading into Sunday’s final round.
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Henrik Stenson kept hitting the best shots of his life, one after another, because there was no other way to beat Phil Mickelson in a British Open duel that ranked among the best in golf.
Mickelson is hoping to become the oldest player in the modern era (46) to win the Claret Jug, while Stenson is looking for his first major title.
It is the nature of a contest which is as much against Mother Nature as it is against any particular rival competitor that dominant as they at times appeared, even Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods failed to feature at the death in many more major championships than they won.
American JB Holmes (69) was third some 13 strokes adrift of Stenson, with his veteran countryman Steve Stricker (69) fourth a further shot back at five-under 279.
Stenson, who has strode the fairways these past few days with an aura of ownership, will carry a one stroke lead into Sunday’s final round. He says “the sooner we get back to trying to play this game at a sensible pace, the better”. “We’ve played a lot of golf together this year, and I’ve known him for many years”. “It’s not something you want to run around and shout but I felt like this was going to be my turn”.
Southgate was about to complete a final round of 2-under 69 to secure a place in the top 15 of the British Open, a year to the week that he underwent surgery after being diagnosed with testicular cancer. I didnt have my best stuff, Mickelson said. I’m happy with the way I finished and I know it’s going to be a tough day against tomorrow.
“It was a tough day”, he said.
“At the end of the day whatever happens the sun will still come up on Monday – just maybe not here in Scotland!”
Mickelson went back in front with a birdie on the 16th but there was time for another two-shot swing on the next, Stenson holing from 15 feet for birdie and Mickelson making bogey after a wayward tee shot. Dustin Johnson actually drove to the back of the green on the 377-yard fourth hole, only to three-putt for a par.
Mickelson was sanguine about his efforts, saying that he merely “found a way to get the ball in the hole” throughout.
The Swede won The Open for the first time at Royal Troon by carding a score of -20, two ahead of nearest challenger Mickelson.
Asked if he harbors any feelings of revenge, Stenson again smiled and said softly, “There’s always revenge”.
“I know he’s not going to back down tomorrow and I’m certainly going to try to not back down either so it should be an exciting afternoon”, Stenson said. I made a 35-footer for par to stay in the game.
The pair both got up and down from left of the final green for their pars, leaving Stenson one ahead going into the last round.
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“The club head came loose on it earlier on the week”.
