Henrik Stenson Wins British Open Golf in Record Fashion

“Yeah, I’m not sure how I’m going to feel about that”, a subdued Mickelson said.

At the age of 40, Henrik Stenson is hoping his long-awaited first Major victory at the British Open proves to be just the beginning.

Record-breaking Swede Henrik Stenson became the first Scandinavian male to capture a major when he won the British Open on Sunday, beating Phil Mickelson in an extraordinary final-round duel. Tom Watson was the emerging star, 10 years younger, who won his second major earlier that year by holding off Nicklaus to win the Masters.

That, along with 20 miles of Ayrshire coastline, might be all that separates two of the most compelling duels in 156 years of the British Open.

He is 46, in his 25th year as a pro.

It also equals Jason Day’s record in a major, which the world number one set at the 2015 US PGA Championship. “Louis (Oosthuizen) had a three-foot putt on 13, then he had a one-foot putt, then he had an eight-foot putt – and didn’t touch the ball once”.

Rolling home a 15-footer for birdie on the last hole was a fittingly classy finish to see out a three-shot victory that Stenson felt was written in the stars after the loss of his dear friend Mike to cancer.

“That’s something that normally doesn’t happen, but I’m just going to put it (down) to this week and forget about it by the time I get to the PGA”. I played a bogey-free round of 65 on the final round of a major. “I just haven’t gotten the win yet”. It must surely rank as the best I have seen in my short career and most people around me, many of whom had seen decades of Majors. “He was a really keen golfer and always followed us, not just me but some of the other tour players out in Dubai”, the Swede told Sky Sports News HQ. “… I’m happy with where my game has come this year”.

An historic 62 was even on the cards after a superb tee shot on the 17th, but after missing the birdie attempt there, Stenson made no such mistake on the 18th to bring a fitting end to an astonishing day.

They matched pars on only six of the 18 holes. One can find other mistakes, but with the exception of Royal Troon, even the victor doesn’t hit all the right shots. After the first hole in the final round, Mickelson had a one shot lead.

Nicklaus was a runner-up 19 times, but it’s not simple math to suggest he could have won 37 majors.

Both shot 65 in the third round and shared the lead.

Mickelson had scored a 63 himself in the opening round on Thursday last week. Stenson said on Monday, 24 hours after becoming only the second player to finish a major in 20 under par. No. 1-ranked Jason Day, US Open victor Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy were non-factors in the British Open.