Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson engaged in one of golf’s great all-time duels in major championship history at the 2016 British Open at Royal Troon. After a memorable final round where the pair traded birdies all day, Stenson emerged triumphant in record-setting fashion to win his first major.
The 40-year-old Swede also became only the second man after Johnny Miller to shoot a final round 63 in winning a major championship.
After the two had separated themselves from the field over the first three rounds, Stenson (-12) led Mickelson (-11) by a single shot. The next closest golfer was six strokes back. The final pairing pushed it to yet another level during the final round on Sunday as Stenson and Mickelson carded the two best rounds on Sunday. Mickelson shot a 6 under round of 65 but was bested by Stenson, who countered with the record-tying 63 and a round of 8 under par. Ironically enough, Mickelson also had a 63 during this year’s Open Championship in the first round. The next closest golfer was J.B. Holmes in third place at -6, a staggering 11 shots behind Mickelson and an incomprehensible 14 shots off Stenson’s pace.
In the end, Stenson finished at -20, tying Jason Day’s record for best score to par in a major championship set at last year’s PGA Championship.
In the thrilling back-and-forth battle on Sunday, the pair etched their name into the history books alongside the likes of Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus when it comes to thrilling head-to-head matchups in the final round of a major. Throughout the telecast, Stenson-Mickelson was compared to the legendary “Duel in the Sun” between Watson and Nicklaus at the 1977 British Open just down the road from Troon at Turnberry. And after seeing the golf on display on this major championship Sunday, it was no case of recency bias or hyperbole, this was just as good.
The front nine was a birdie barrage. After bogeying the first hole, Stenson birdied five out of his next seven holes. Mickelson responded with two birdies of his own and an eagle on the outward nine. At the turn, Stenson maintained a one stroke advantage.
Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson's battle over the front nine. #TheOpenhttps://t.co/tJRfX0GFVw
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 17, 2016
Coming home on the inward nine, the pair both birdied the 10th but Stenson took a step back at the 11th with his second bogey of the day. That brought the pair into a tie for the lead at -16.
With the drama building as each hole passed, Stenson broke away on the 14th and 15th holes, continuing one of the most amazing putting displays in a long time in a major championship.
After making a mid-length birdie putt on the 14th hole, on the 15th Stenson sank this 50-footer from way downtown to pull into a two stroke lead.
He's holed it. Two shot lead for Stenson with three to play. #TheOpenhttps://t.co/xCrK3OtiXK
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 17, 2016
Both players birdied the Par 5 16th hole and parred the 17th hole. That meant Stenson came to the 18th tee still holding a two stroke lead. On the tournament’s 72nd and final hole, Stenson did what he did with machine-like consistency all week. He hit the fairway. He hit the green. He sank the birdie putt. This time, it was a birdie that clinched his first major and made a little bit of history along the way.
Henrik Stenson birdies the 18th hole and shoots a 63 in the final round to win the 145th Open https://t.co/5s2BEM9p73
— Douglas Pucci (@SonOfTheBronx) July 17, 2016
While Stenson may not be a household name to some casual golf fans, he’s long been in that group of players considered “best to never win a major.” Coming into this week’s event, he had 9 Top 10 finishes in majors and his biggest accomplishment as a professional was winning both year-end championships on the PGA Tour and European Tour in 2013.
Stenson’s major championship breakthrough was long overdue and well-deserved for a player of his caliber as he will break into the Top 5 of the World Golf Rankings.
For Mickelson, it was a remarkable tournament at 46 years old after missing the cut at both the Masters and US Open earlier this year. However, it ultimately finished in bittersweet fashion as Mickelson’s 11th runner-up at a major, now second all-time behind Jack Nicklaus, who had a record 19 runner-up finishes along with his record 18 major wins.
