This week at The Open, Phil Mickelson hopes to move on from his previous setbacks.
For those who have won the Open Championship before, this week’s return to Royal Troon will evoke unforgettable memories; however, Phil Mickelson will only be left with painful memories. In his illustrious career, the six-time major champion has only once won the Claret Jug—at Muirfield in 2013.
However, three years later, the left-hander came agonizingly close to taking home the silverware once more.
When he faced off against Henrik Stenson at Troon, both players rose to the occasion, making it one of the greatest major tournament finales ever.
Mickelson started the day one shot ahead of the Swede, a deficit he quickly erased with a magnificent birdie on the opening hole. Though he managed to shoot a six-under par 65, Stenson’s incredible 63 proved to be too much for him, as he lost by three shots.
While doing so, the American set an unfavorable record. His final score of 267 was the lowest ever for a major championship runner-up at the time.
Ahead of Thursday’s opening round, Stenson has been thinking back eight years after their historic duel. Furthermore, he disclosed that even though Mickelson was extremely kind that day, he later discovered from the player’s caddie, Steve Loy, that losing out had haunted him.
Later that year, during the US PGA Championship at Baltusrol, the two had a conversation during which Loy reportedly confided in the now 48-year-old. It makes sense that Phil was a little taken aback by the entire result, Stenson told Golf Monthly.
Phil claimed that it was the first time in his professional career that he had performed so well without winning the trophy. We were both a part of an incredible duel and an incredible occasion in The Open’s history. Though I’m sure Phil wouldn’t mind, I could talk about that Open for hours on end.
After defecting to the LIV Golf Tour, which is supported by Saudi Arabia, the two rivals have since become polarizing figures. Due to his final choice, Stenson was deprived of the Ryder Cup captaincy, which Luke Donald eventually took over for him during the team competition in Rome last year.
But both are still qualified to play in Troon this week because they were previous Open champions. In the first two rounds, Stenson will play alongside Danish players Rasmus Hojgaard and Jacob Olesen, two more Scandinavians.
Meanwhile, Mickelson will play alongside Dutchman Joost Luiten and fellow countryman Dustin Johnson. The Open Championship is being held at the Scottish venue for the tenth time.
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