Fansided

British Open 2017: 5 best moments in history

By John Buhler

24 JUL 1995: JOHN DALY OF THE USA POSES WITH THE TROPHY ON THE FAMOUS Swilken Bridge ON THE 18TH FAIRWAY ON THE MORNING AFTER WINNING THE 1995 OPEN GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP ON THE OLD COURSE AT ST. ANDREWS, FIFE, SCOTLAND. Mandatory Credit: J.D. Cuban/ALLSPORT
24 JUL 1995: JOHN DALY OF THE USA POSES WITH THE TROPHY ON THE FAMOUS Swilken Bridge ON THE 18TH FAIRWAY ON THE MORNING AFTER WINNING THE 1995 OPEN GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP ON THE OLD COURSE AT ST. ANDREWS, FIFE, SCOTLAND. Mandatory Credit: J.D. Cuban/ALLSPORT /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 5
Next
TROON, SCOTLAND – JULY 17: Henrik Stenson of Sweden poses with the Claret Jug on Troon Beach following his victory during the final round on day four of the 145th Open Championship at Royal Troon on July 17, 2016 in Troon, Scotland. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/R
TROON, SCOTLAND – JULY 17: Henrik Stenson of Sweden poses with the Claret Jug on Troon Beach following his victory during the final round on day four of the 145th Open Championship at Royal Troon on July 17, 2016 in Troon, Scotland. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/R /

3. Henrik Stenson shoots 20 under – 2016

Don’t call it recency bias. Let the facts speak for themselves. What Sweden’s Henrik Stenson did at the 2016 British Open at Royal Troon Golf Club in Scotland was one of the greatest performances in the history of golf. The guy shot 20 under par on the tournament to become the first Scandinavian to win a men’s golf major.

Stenson was three strokes better than 2013 Open Champion Phil Mickelson, who shot a ridiculous 17 under, but that wasn’t enough to take home the Claret Jug for a second time. In Round 1, Stenson shot a modest 68 (-3) to finish Thursday in ninth place. That would put him a full five strokes back of Mickelson after just one round.

Rather than gradually chip at Mickelson’s lead, Stenson would be just a stroke back of the leader on Friday after shooting a strong 65 (-6). Stenson would surpass Mickelson on Saturday by shooting another 68 (-3), leading by one stroke heading into the final round on Sunday. Then things got crazy at Royal Troon.

While Mickelson shot another outstanding round with a 65 (-6) to finish at -17 on the tournament, Stenson simply caught fire on Sunday. He matched Mickelson’s output on Thursday with his own 63 (-8) on championship Sunday. Stenson would birdie 10 holes, while birdying only two. He birdied four of the last five holes to outpace Mickelson down the stretch in ridiculous fashion.

Home/The Open Championship