Beating a great like Mickelson extra special, says Stenson

He also recalled Tom Watson’s near miss at the age of 59 down the Ayrshire coast at Turnberry in 2009. Cult figure Johnston emerged as one of golf’s most colourful new characters over the week and the game can only benefit. At 40 and 46 respectively, victor Stenson and runner-up Mickelson can no longer claim to be youngsters, but their dominance of the event was not by chance. He was 14 shots behind. For the last four decades, the “Duel in the Sun” was the gold standard for head-to-head battles in a major championship, which are rare.

Watson and Nicklaus had the same score through 54 holes, shooting the same score each round – including third-round 65s.

“We were on the 7th tee on Sunday, I was drawing on a cigarette”. Nicklaus finished 10 strokes ahead of Hubert Green, who famously quipped afterward: “I won the golf tournament”.

The shot-for-shot showdown stirred up comparisons to Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus at Turnberry in 1977, nicknamed the “Duel in the Sun”.

‘Phil Mickelson played one of the best rounds I have ever seen played in The Open and Henrik Stenson just played better – he played one of the greatest rounds I have ever seen.

It was like watching two prizefighters battle for the heavyweight belt.

“It’s a tiring game to play because he never gives up and always comes back at you and he did so this week”.

“Henrik knew Phil wasn’t going to lay down and just let him do it and it will go down as one of the finest finishes of all time”. Mickelson made six birdies against no bogeys for a 65.

Like two prize fighters in a ring, the two men traded blow after stunning blow, reeling off birdie after birdie to turn the last day of golf’s oldest major into a two-way procession.

Yesterday, the Swede shot a final round 63 to win his first Major while Mickelson shot a 65 in the same group.

Stenson acknowledged that it will take some time for his victory to sink in, not least because of the manner of it.

A Sunday singles match-up would be mouth-watering after the titanic Troon tussle, although Stenson is not so sure.

His major championship record-equalling low round of 63, featuring 10 birdies, on Sunday saw him beat American Phil Mickelson by three strokes with an overall score of 20 under par, the lowest-ever total at The Open.

A bet Stenson kept Lord apprised of during the Open’s final round.

What nickname will the 145th Open Championship get? Nicklaus didn’t waste anytime weighing in. I played a bogey-free round of 65 on the final round of a Major.

“I’ve really felt the support here as well, even though Phil is a very popular Major champion and a very popular player”.

He said: “It certainly crossed my mind a little bit out there today, that match when Jack and Tom went head-to-head there in ’77”.