Phil Mickelson: Stat proves he is the unluckiest man in golf

“Very impressive and congrats @henrikstenson, Sweden doesn’t have to wait no more!”

The final gap became three shots as Stenson holed out for birdie at the last to follow Mickelson’s feat in the first round on Thursday by shooting 63.

However, the Swede promptly fought back with a remarkable 10 birdies en route to a major championship record-equaling round of 63 to seal the deal in style.

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.

His total of 264 set a record for lowest score at a major.

And he about needed them all. Spieth was fighting the press over what he perceived are unfair and unrealistic expectations placed on him after he won two majors in 2015. But they had already won majors and Nicklaus himself even took to social media to say that Stenson and Mickelson’s tussle was better than theirs. “I know I wanted to be more of Tom in that case than Jack”. Mickelson said it was the best golf he ever played without winning.

“Awesome. I’ve been so focused this week and on this day in particular”, said Stenson.

– Jack Nicklaus hailing the final-round battle for the Open Championship as even better than the famous “Duel in the Sun”.

Stenson came into the final day leading by one-stroke at 12 under par, but Mickelson recovered with a birdie on the first to swap positions, but soon after the two were neck-on-neck in the ultimate duel.

Mickelson led only once, a two-shot swing on the opening hole.

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. He came out firing with a birdie on the first hole.

“I’ve always thought that he is one of the best ball-strikers in the game and that major championships are perfectly suited for him”, Mickelson said. He chased a 3-wood onto the green at the par-5 16th, and his eagle putt from 30 feet missed by less than an inch. “I’m disappointed that it was at my expense”. J.B. Holmes closed with a 69 and finished in third, 14 strokes behind Stenson.

Watch: Golfers react to Henrik Stenson’s win at The Open.

Stenson and Mickelson laughingly lapped the field.

Stenson, who also won in Germany recently, will play in the U.S. PGA at Baltusrol in New Jersey from July 27-31 before heading to Rio for the Olympic golf event in August. Over the next 10 holes, they halved with par only twice while combining to score nine birdies, an eagle and one bogey. He also ended a streak of six American winners at Royal Troon that dated to 1950. Major champion victor and Cabrera-Bello neck-tickler.

“I was 11 when I started playing”.