Golf Comment: Astounding 66 made Lefty a worthy champ
HE IS no stranger to winning Majors but I suspect that yesterday’s dazzling and triumphant final round at the Open will stay with Phil Mickelson for as long as he lives.
Shooting a 66 on a Muirfield course that proved such a test to the best players in the world is astounding. Lefty, as he is known, thinks it may have been his best round ever; I’m not going to argue.
When he birdied 14 Mickelson seemed to glimpse his chance, and he might even have won by more. He was so unlucky to only par 16, before clinching his fifth Major with two great shots at the last.
By contrast, it was a sad day for Lee Westwood. The overnight leader paid the price for big errors at the sixth and seventh, and a bad par five at the ninth.
It just did not happen for him, but fellow Englishman Ian Poulter did spring into contention with a blistering final round of 67 that made for an exciting final day, if perhaps not the greatest Open ever since the outcome was decided early. Finally, congratulations to Matt Fitzpatrick for winning the silver medal for top amateur.
Sam Torrance OBE is a multiple Ryder Cup-winning golfer and media commentator. Follow him on Twitter @torrancesam
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