It was a efficiency which broke or equalled all types 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 prime in a sensational shootout with Mickelson to win his solely main title and raise the Claret Jug.
Stenson carded a closing 63 to turn into solely the second participant ever to complete a significant on 20 underneath par, equalling the file 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 completed within the first spherical, it was solely the second 63 within the ultimate spherical of a significant 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 significant set by David Toms within the 2001 US PGA and was three decrease than the earlier Open file 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 reminiscences 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 appeared again on one of many biggest Open Championships in current reminiscence.
“I’m actually wanting ahead to it,” Stenson stated.
“There’s been a number of Opens since however it’s going to be particular coming again to an awesome venue with Phil. It was a incredible 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 probabilities I’m going to get to win a significant championship. Going up towards Phil, I knew I used to be in for an actual problem.
“I knew what I used to be up towards and I believe that helped me to only let go and actually go after it and produce my very best and, fortunate for me, I managed to try 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 adequate to assert a second Open title.
“It’s the one time I can bear in mind in my profession the place I performed my very best golf and it wasn’t sufficient to win,” the left-hander stated.
“I’ve all the time tried to place it in my palms. Like if I play my sport, if I play effectively, it will likely be adequate, and it all the time had been till that week.
“However but I nonetheless actually loved that week. I look again on it fondly though I didn’t win. I cherished the 36 holes over the weekend that we performed, competed towards head-to-head.
“We actually had a good time as a result of that’s what it’s about. It’s not concerning the trophy as a lot as it’s the course of. I believed I performed an awesome ultimate spherical and I believed for certain 65 could be sufficient.
“Despite the fact that I got here up quick, I believed it was a number of enjoyable to be part of that.”