Phil Mickelson masters Muirfield to win The Open
Published: Last updated:
Elated and jubilant Phil Mickelson said winning The Open was something he would “always cherish as the most fulfilling win” of his brilliant career.
Lefty mastered Muirfield after a brilliant final round of 66, keeping his head while all around him players were losing theirs; overnight leader Lee Westwood once again denied by the American as he was in 2010 at the Masters.
The new Open champ produced a display of golf that was cool, calm and collected rather than his usual thrilling gung-ho all-out attack style.
And it brought him the Claret Jug at the age of 43 and at the 22nd attempt.
A magnificent birdie, birdie finish – his ten feet putt on 18 never left the hole after tracking in right-to-left – saw Mickelson raise his arms aloft to huge cheers as the magnitude of his achievement sunk in.
And he later tearfully embraced his wife Amy and family as he made his way to the recorders hut to complete the scoring formalities, his -3 score securing a three stroke victory over Henrik Stenson.
And as he sat in front of a packed Champion’s Press Conference, his hand never left the nape of the jug he held in a manner that betrayed he was doing so to make sure it was really happening to him.
“It was the best round of my career, and probably the most fulfilling. I wondered if I would ever get the opportunity to challenge and win the Open – it’s taken me a long time to get used to links golf,” said Mickelson. “I knew I had to bring my ‘A game’ today. I did.
“But I am playing the best golf of my career – I’m fitter, doing the right things, so why shouldn’t I win it at 43? It didn’t matter how I did it – I just wanted to do it – but yes, I do like to win tournaments rather than be given them and I knew I would have to do that today – go out and win it.
“I’ve putted phenomenal this week and my target today was to get to even by the back nine. I knew once I was there I was in position.
“The two three woods I hit on 17 are why I don’t have a driver in my bag. They are the best two three woods I’ve ever hit. I saw the electronic leaderboard there and knew I was -1 and winning, and that I had to focus and make sure I made sure of a birdie.
“I admit I got a little emotional and carried away, so I had to make sure I brought myself back, because 18 is a tough hole and I needed a par there. Fortunately, I birdied that and the feeling when that happened? Wow. I can’t tell how special it is.
“A month ago in the US Open I was hurting real bad. But I used it as a motivation to work harder and in the space of a month, everything’s changed. To share this with Amy and the kids, Bones my caddy, everyone like Butch (Harmon, coach) and Steve (Loy, manager), is truly special.
“We’re going to cherish this day for the rest of our lives.”
