It was a efficiency which broke or equalled every kind of data, to not point out Phil Mickelson’s coronary heart.
The final time Royal Troon hosted the Open Championship in 2016, Sweden’s Henrik Stenson got here out on high in a sensational shootout with Mickelson to win his solely main title and carry the Claret Jug.
Stenson carded a closing 63 to turn into solely the second participant ever to complete a serious on 20 beneath par, equalling the document set by Jason Day within the earlier yr’s US PGA Championship.
In addition to equalling the bottom rating recorded in any main on the time, which Mickelson had additionally carried out within the first spherical, it was solely the second 63 within the closing spherical of a serious by the eventual winner after Johnny Miller within the 1973 US Open at Oakmont.
Stenson’s 72-hole whole of 264 additionally eclipsed the earlier greatest in a serious set by David Toms within the 2001 US PGA and was three decrease than the earlier Open document set by Greg Norman at Sandwich in 1993.
Mickelson had began the ultimate spherical only one behind Stenson and carded a closing 65, however completed three behind as they mixed for 14 birdies and an eagle, reviving recollections of the ‘Duel within the Solar’ between Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus at close by Turnberry in 1977.
Eight years on, the protagonists will journey to Troon after competing within the newest LIV Golf occasion at Valderrama, the place they regarded again on one of many best Open Championships in current reminiscence.
“I’m actually trying ahead to it,” Stenson mentioned.
“There’s been just a few Opens since however it’s going to be particular coming again to an important venue with Phil. It was a improbable week of golf for each of us. Fortunately for me, I used to be the one to attract the longer straw and are available out with a win.
“I used to be 40 on the time and I by no means knew what number of possibilities I’m going to get to win a serious championship. Going up in opposition to Phil, I knew I used to be in for an actual problem.
“I knew what I used to be up in opposition to and I feel that helped me to only let go and actually go after it and convey my best possible and, fortunate for me, I managed to do this. As they are saying, the remainder is historical past.”
Mickelson had overwhelmed Stenson into second place at Muirfield three years earlier and admits he nonetheless can not consider his closing 65 was not ok to say a second Open title.
“It’s the one time I can keep in mind in my profession the place I performed my best possible golf and it wasn’t sufficient to win,” the left-hander mentioned.
“I’ve at all times tried to place it in my palms. Like if I play my recreation, if I play effectively, it will likely be ok, and it at all times had been till that week.
“However but I nonetheless actually loved that week. I look again on it fondly although I didn’t win. I liked the 36 holes over the weekend that we performed, competed in opposition to head-to-head.
“We actually had a good time as a result of that’s what it’s about. It’s not in regards to the trophy as a lot as it’s the course of. I believed I performed an important closing spherical and I believed for positive 65 could be sufficient.
“Despite the fact that I got here up quick, I believed it was loads of enjoyable to be part of that.”
