While every other player in the field collapsed one by one under the pressure, Phil Mickelson lit up Muirfield Golf Club with a clutch final round to win the British Open Sunday.
“I needed to bring it. I needed to show up and play some of the best golf, and I did. I played some of the best golf of my career,” Mickelson said.
With yesterday’s victory, Mickelson became just the 17th man to win three different major championships during his career.
Mickelson came into the final day five strokes behind, and was the only golfer to remain under par at the conclusion of the last 18 holes.
Mickelson finished in fashion, birdying 17 with two impressive three-wood shots, and 18 with a long putt to seal his fifth Major title.
Lee Westwood led the tournament going into the final day, but did not hit a fairway on the front nine and finished his last 18 holes with a 75.
“You’ve got to play well to give yourself your own momentum, and I just couldn’t get there,” Westwood said.
Westwood finished tied for third place, marking his eighth top-three finish without a win in 62 major competitions.
“I’m not too disappointed,” Westwood said. “I don’t really get disappointed with golf anymore.”
Tiger Woods, Adam Scott and Henrik Stenson were also in the contention for the cup, but all three struggled in the final stretch.
Mickelson’s charge happened so quickly, Scott said he began to wonder if the electronic boards were malfunctioning.
Stenson said he did not realize until the 17th tee that he was now three back. “That was a bit sneaky of him,” the Swede laughed.
Mickelson’s sights are surely set on the U.S. Open to be played at Pinehurst next June for his shot to join the elite club of only five other golfers to win all four grand slam titles.