For Henrik Stenson, a different life begins at 40.
Stenson became the first Swedish man to capture a major golf title by shooting a brilliant 8-under-par 63 in a sizzling final-round duel with Phil Mickelson, who closed with a 65 but came up three strokes short in the 145th Open Championship at Royal Troon Golf Club in South Ayrshire, Scotland.
The Swede’s 63 was the 27th in major history since Johnny Miller became the first to achieve that feat in the final round to win the 1973 U.S. Open at Oakmont.
“This has been on the shoulders of Swedish male golfers for a long time,” said Stenson, whose 72-hole total of 20-under 264 broke by three shots the Open record set by Greg Norman in 1993 and also is the lowest score in major championship history. “We’ve been trying so hard all these years, especially Jesper (Parnevik), who came so close.
“This will take a while to set in, but I thank Phil for a great battle and I was fortunate to come out on top. It’s awesome. I was so focused this week and this day. I just believed that it was my time.”
Stenson lost his one-stroke overnight lead with the first of his two bogeys on the opening hole, where Mickleson made a birdie, but the Swede poured in 10 birdies–including a 50-foot birdie putt from off the 15th green that gave him a two-stroke lead with three holes to play.
Americans had won the last six Open Championships at Royal Troon, but Mickelson couldn’t keep the streak alive despite a valiant effore.
Despite playing bogey-free, Lefty failed to win his sixth major title. He made an eagle on the fourth hole and barely missed another at No. 16, but Stenson pulled away with birdies on four of the last five holes.
It was reminiscent of the famed “Battle in the Sun,” in which Tom Watson outlasted Jack Nicklaus in the 1977 Open at Turnberry.
“I thought of that and I wanted to be more like Tom than Jack,” said Mickelson, who has been a runner-up in 11 major championships, second to Nicklaus’ record of 19. “We played some pretty great golf–Henrik made 10 birdies. It was pretty impressive.
“I’ve been friends with him for a long time and he’s a class act. I’m happy for him. What a great champion. I threw as much as I could at him and he just didn’t make any mistakes.”
Stenson’s previous best finish in a major was second to Mickelson in the 2013 Open at Muirfield, where Lefty claimed he last of his 42 PGA Tour victories.
J.B. Holmes carded a second straight 69 and finished a distant 14 strokes behind in third, followed another shot back by Steve Stricker, who also had a 69.
Fourth-ranked Rory McIlroy shot 67 and was another stroke down in a tie for fifth with Tyrrell Hatton of England, who totaled 67, and Sergio Garcia of Spain, who came in at 69.
U.S. Open champion Dustin Johnson tied for 10th after a 70, defending champion Zach Johnson shot 71 to tie for 12th, top-ranked Jason Day of Australia tied for 22nd with a 71, third-ranked Jordan Spieth shot 68 to tie for 30th, fifth-ranked Bubba Watson closed with a 69 to tie for 39th, seventh-ranked Rickie Fowler of Murrieta tied for 46th with a 73 and Masters champion Danny Willett of England shot 71 and tied for 53rd.
