Henrik Stenson carded a joint record eight-under-par 63 to win The Open by three shots after an enthralling final-round tussle with Phil Mickelson. The Swede, 40, birdied four of his final five holes to win his first major with an Open Championship record score of 20 under par at Royal Troon. Mickelson, 46, had an eagle and four birdies in a 65, while fellow American JB Holmes (69) was third on six under.
Rory McIlroy (67) and England’s Tyrrell Hatton (68) tied fifth on four under. They finished on the same mark as Spain’s Sergio Garcia (69), and one behind American Steve Stricker (69). Like McIlroy, Jordan Spieth saved his best round of the week for Sunday, the American’s 68 lifting him to two over. Crowd favourite Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston got to seven under before the 27-year-old Londoner faded to a final-day 73 and eighth on three under.
Defending champion Zach Johnson (71) ended one under, alongside English duo Andy Sullivan and Matt Southgate, the Essex golfer who conquered testicular cancer. England’s Masters champion Danny Willett closed with a level-par 71 for seven over.
