Muirfield: Phil Mickelson won the British Open at Muirfield on Sunday with a superb final round of 66.
The 43-year-old American won with a three under total of 281, three strokes clear of Henrik Stenson who had a closing 70. Third place was shared by English pair Lee Westwood (75) and Ian Poulter (67) and Australian Adam Scott (72).
Mickelson won in what was his 20th Open campaign and it was his fifth major title after the Masters of 2004, 2006 and 2010 and the PGA Championship of 2005.
It came just one month after he had endured the heartbreak of a record sixth runner-up finish at the US Open behind Justin Rose.
‘This is such an accomplishment. I never thought I could develop the game and shots to play links golf,’ said Mickelson. ‘The greens were fast and firm. I played the best round of my life, I putted better than I have ever putted. ‘I shot the round of my life.’
Mickelson started the final round five strokes adrift of leader Westwood, but held steady going out and then stormed down the back nine in a superb 32 at a time when all of his rivals were stumbling in the tough conditions. It was the third straight Open won by a golfer in their 40s with Ernie Els and Darren Clarke both 42 when they won at Royal Lytham and Royal St George’s respectively Mickelson also became the first player in history to win the Scottish Open and then go on to win the British Open the following week.
Mickelson, who won the Masters in 2004, 2006 and 2010 and the US PGA in 2005, continues the list of illustrious former champions at Muirfield, which includes such greats of the game as Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Tom Watson, Nick Faldo (twice) and Ernie Els, who was defending champion this week.
Westwood, seeking a first major title at the 62nd attempt, led by two going into the final day and moved serenely into a three-shot lead after five holes. But he took two to get out of a pot bunker on the short seventh and from then on was always struggling for momentum in a 75.
Stenson carded 70 for his best finish in a major, while Ryder Cup hero Poulter surged from eight strokes back with a brilliant 67 on an overcast, breezy day in contrast to the heat and sunshine of the rest of the week in East Lothian.
Scott, who blew a four-shot lead to finish runner-up to Els last year, hit the front at one stage but faltered late on with a 72. Tiger Woods began two behind Westwood and in prime position to strike for a 15th major title and first since 2008. But he went backwards from the first and ended with a 74 for two over.