Who won last year’s British Open?
By John Buhler
The 146th playing of The Open Championship will begin on Thursday, July 20 at Royal Birkdale. Who won the 2016 British Open just a year ago?
The 2017 British Open will be under way beginning on Thursday, July 20. This year, The Open Championship will be played at the Royal Birkdale Golf Course in Southport, England. It will be 146th playing of The Open Championship to date. Before we look ahead, who won the tournament last year?
It was a big time for Scandinavia, as Sweden’s Henrik Stenson became the first golfer from that part of the world to win a major professional tournament in men’s golf. He was simply sensational in the 2016 British Open just a year ago. Stenson shot a ridiculous 20-under par on the tournament. How does that even happen?
Stenson beat out American Phil Mickelson by three strokes at Royal Troon Golf Club in Ayrshire, Scotland. After a solid first round score of a 68 (-3), Stenson would begin his charge to the top of the leaderboard with a great second round score of 65 (-6). He would be one stroke back of Mickelson at -9 through two rounds.
Stenson would play another solid round on Saturday, shooting a 68 (-3) to improve to a -12 on the tournament. He would lead Mickelson by a stroke heading into Round 4 on Sunday at Royal Troon. Then what happened next was amazing.
Stenson came out of the gate on fire. He may have bogeyed No. 1 on Sunday, but he would five holes on the front nine to extend his lead to -16. Mickelson would hit an eagle on No. 4 to keep pace with Stenson heading into the back nine. There, Stenson would birdie four of the last five holes and five overall on the back nine to win the tournament at -20.
Next: Complete List Of PGA Championship Winners
Will Stenson be as successful or anywhere close to as successful at Royal Birkdale this year? Who knows, but his 2016 Open Championship victory was absolutely one for the ages. He may never play a better weekend of golf in his life.