Phil Mickelson Wins First Career British Open
In what will surely be looked at as one of the greatest comebacks in not just golf but all of sports, Phil Mickelson erased a five shot deficit entering Sunday to win his first career British Open.
Mickelson, who won his first ever golf tournament on British soil last week at the Scottish Open shot a 5-under 66 on Sunday that left golfers and spectators around the world stunned. His final round 66 was not only the best score to be posted by anyone in the field on Sunday, it was also his personal best for a final round in a major in his hall of fame career.
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While Phil was sinking birdies at what seemed at ease (he carded four birdies over the final six holes) the rest of the field struggled to make pars, allowing Mickelson to shoot up the leader board and claim the Claret Jug.
Old Palm resident Lee Westwood, who entered Sunday with a two-shot lead, shot a 75 and finished in a tie for third. Masters champion Adam Scott birdied the 11th hole to take the lead before making four bogeys on the last five holes to join Westwood in a tie for third. Tiger entered the day just two shots back of Westwood. The Jupiter Island resident was in the best position to win a major since his last win at the 2008 U.S. Open. Woods shot a final round 74 and had to settle for a tie for sixth.
At the end of the day, when the top golfers on the leader board struggled, Mickelson kept fighting and did something he never though that he would be able to accomplish in his career.
“This is such an accomplishment for me because I just never knew if I’d be able to develop the game to play links golf effectively,” Mickelson said. “To play the best round arguably of my career, to putt better than I’ve ever putted, to shoot the round of my life … it feels amazing to win the claret jug.”
With the win, not only did Mickelson win his fifth career major and get one step closer to the career grand slam (he still needs to win the U.S. Open where he has been a runner up six time), he also moved up to number two in the FedEx Cup standings and in the Official World Golf Ranking.
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