The Golf Blog: Phil Mickelson shoots 5-under 66, poised to win British Open and 5th major
"The Champion Golfer of the Year" RT @The_Open: The 142nd Open Champion is Phil Mickelson….#TheOpen pic.twitter.com/6u1CR1gbWV
— KPMG Mickelson (@MickelsonHat) July 21, 2013
The Golf Blog says: Phil Mickelson, 43 years old, shot a smart 2-under on the front 9 to pull himself back to even for the tourney. Meanwhile, Lee Westwood hung in tough for 9 holes, despite not hitting one fairway on the front nine. At one point, Westy, Henrik Stenson, and Adam Scott were tied for the lead at -1, while Hunter Mahan, Zach Johnson, and Phil were all one back.
But Phil then took off in the back nine, with 4 birdies, including back to back on 13 and 14, and 17 and 18. A key par saver on 16 kept his momentum going. The other leaders in contention went sideways or in reverse as Phil finished his round and posted 3-under.
It ended up the reverse of Merion at the U.S. Open. Adam Scott, who had the solo lead at -2, faltered down the stretch with his putter, while Phil Mickelson put on a dramatic back nine charge. In the end, Phil was the only player under par.
Phil said, “This is one of the best rounds of my career. This is the best I’ve ever putted. This is probably the most fulfilling moment of my career because I didn’t know if I would be able to do it [at the British].”
“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.”
This is why Phil Mickelson is my favorite golfer. He is the Anti-Tiger Woods. #TheOpenChampionship #Lefty pic.twitter.com/7MoqalaPbw
— Giles Fox (@gbizniz) July 21, 2013
A picture speaks 1000 words… #TheOpen pic.twitter.com/cFh8QUtEjr
— The Open (@The_Open) July 21, 2013
Leaderboard
Phil Mickelson -3 -5 F 69 74 72 66 281
Henrik Stenson E -1 F 70 70 74 70 284
Ian Poulter +1 -4 F 72 71 75 67 285
Adam Scott +1 +1 F 71 72 70 72 285
Lee Westwood +1 +4 F 72 68 70 75 285
Hideki Matsuyama+2 -1 F 71 73 72 70 286
Zach Johnson +2 +1 F 66 75 73 72 286
Tiger Woods +2 +3 F 69 71 72 74 286
Francesco Molinari+3 +1 F 69 74 72 72 287
Hunter Mahan +3 +4 F 72 72 68 75 287
