Fansided

The Open Championship: Top 10 moments in history

By Luke Norris

CARNOUSTIE, SCOTLAND - APRIL 24: The Claret Jug the Open Championship trophy behind the second green during the media day for the 147th Open Championship on the Championship Course at the Carnoustie Golf Links on April 24, 2018 in Carnoustie, Scotland. (Photo by David Cannon/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)
CARNOUSTIE, SCOTLAND - APRIL 24: The Claret Jug the Open Championship trophy behind the second green during the media day for the 147th Open Championship on the Championship Course at the Carnoustie Golf Links on April 24, 2018 in Carnoustie, Scotland. (Photo by David Cannon/R&A/R&A via Getty Images) /
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TROON, SCOTLAND – JULY 17: Henrik Stenson of Sweden is congratulated by Phil Mickelson of the United States (L) on the 18th green 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&A/R&A via Getty Images)
TROON, SCOTLAND – JULY 17: Henrik Stenson of Sweden is congratulated by Phil Mickelson of the United States (L) on the 18th green 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&A/R&A via Getty Images) /

4. Henrik Stenson wins at Royal Troon in 2016 in record fashion

In what is widely regarded as one of the most entertaining final-round battles in the long and storied history of The Open Championship, Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson put on a show at Royal Troon in 2016 in a two-man race for the Claret Jug.

Phil Mickelson had jumped out to a three-shot lead after the first round, tying the then-lowest-ever round in a major with a 63. Stenson shot a first-round 68 and was five shots back but closed the gap to one at the halfway point with a second-round 65 as Mickelson shot 69. Stenson fired a 68 to Mickelson’s 70 in the third round to take a one-shot advantage into Sunday and with the next-closest player, Bill Haas, five shots behind, the race was on.

Mickelson quickly jumped into the lead with a birdie at the first as Stenson three-putted for bogey. The Swede fought back with three consecutive birdies and the two were tied when Mickelson eagled the par-5 fourth hole. Both made birdies at the sixth but Stenson would take a one-shot lead into the final nine with his fifth birdie on the front at the eighth.

Both made birdies at the 10th but were tied again when Stenson bogeyed the par-4 11th. Stenson regained his one-shot lead with a birdie at the par-3 14th, his seventh of the day, and wouldn’t look back, carding three more birdies in the last four holes for a total of 10 on the day en route to a final-round 63 to claim his first major championship.

He became the first Swedish-born player to win a major championship, became just the second player in history to shoot 20-under in a major, tying Jason Day’s mark the previous year at the PGA Championship and shot the lowest aggregate score in major championship history with 264 strokes.

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