Stenson outduels Mickelson in British Open

“Wow, this will take a little while to sink in”, said Stenson as he held aloft the coveted Claret Jug.

As well as becoming Sweden’s first Major champion, Stenson broke a host of records with the lowest total to par in British Open history and the lowest ever final round by a victor.

Stenson made a whopping ten birdies in his final round of play, matching the lowest score at a major championship – something that Mickelson had achieved on the first day of play on Thursday.

Stenson finished at 264, breaking by one shot the 72-hole scoring record in the majors that David Toms set in the 2001 PGA Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club.

The standard of golf effectively split the British Open into two separate events, with the nearest chaser, JB Holmes of America, finishing at six under. Lefty had a 16-footer for birdie at the 18th in his opening round. After waving to the crowd he embraced Mickelson, whose score would have won every other British Open bar four. “I felt like he was there with me all week”.

The first came on No. 14.

“I knew he wasn’t going to back down at any point, and in a way that makes it easier for myself”, Stenson said.

“It makes it even more special to beat a competitor like Phil”. He also tied Jason Day’s record of 20 under par in a major, set a year ago at Whistling Straits.

But he says he feels “privileged” to be the first Swedish man to finally win a major. “Played close to flawless golf and was beat”. “Jesper Parnevik, in particular, twice”.

The world No.6 Swede came into the final round with a one-shot advantage over his American rival but the duo were tied at the top of the leaderboard with five holes to play as they went blow-for-blow in an enthralling contest.

Stenson became only the fourth player to win the British Open with all four rounds in the 60s, joining Tiger Woods, Nick Price and Greg Norman.

He edged clear again on the third, but Mickelson’s stunning eagle three at the fourth, after a fading in a long iron to the heart of the green, put them level.

As the wind died down and the sun made a rare appearance, Stenson delivered the coup de grace with a hat-trick of birdies at the 14th, 15th and 16th giving him a two-shot advantage with two holes to play.

The Swede took his one-shot lead to the turn, but fell back to join Mickelson with a bogey at the tough 11th before the scrap became more desperate with neither player willing to cede an inch.