Stenson wins Open

Stenson versus Mickelson in round four of the 2016 British Open will go down as one of the greatest battles in golf history - every bit as breathtaking as the storied "Duel in the Sun" between Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus at Turnberry in 1977.

How good was the golf? Runner-up Mickelson shot a six-under-par 65 with not a single bogey and yet came up short against an opponent who was an incredible eight under on the day.

Ironically, Stenson's record round got off to a very ordinary start. Taking a one-shot lead into Sunday, the 40-year-old Swede opened with a bogey. Meanwhile, five-time major winner Mickelson birdied the first to reclaim the overall lead.

But Stenson shrugged off that setback and birdied the next three holes in a row. Further birdies followed on six and eight, as the Swede finished the front nine in 32 strokes. Mickelson matched that total at the halfway point - thanks to an eagle at the 555-yard par-five fourth.

Lefty also opened the back nine with a birdie, and when Stenson made his second bogey of the day on the eleventh, the players were all square.

Having triumphed in majors in the past, Mickelson looked to be the favorite. But it was Stenson - seeking his first Grand Slam win - reeling off three birdies in a row on holes 14 to 16. During that stretch he sunk a 40-foot putt that seemed to hit Mickelson like a punch in the gut.

Stenson was up by two. Mickelson scrambled his way to a par from off the green on the 17th to forestall the eventual conclusion. But on the final hole, Stenson hit a three wood more than 300 yards and holed one last long putt to card a remarkable 63.

Stenson's final score of twenty under was the best ever in Open history - three shots better than Mickelson who would have won the title almost any other year. Stenson also tied the record for the lowest score on the final day of a major.

Accepting the claret jug, Stenson dedicated his first major win to a friend of his who died of cancer on Wednesday.