News
5 things we learned from the final round of the Open Championship
Since Saturday morning, we had an inkling that Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson would revisit the famous 1977 Duel In The Sun of Watson and Nicklaus. On Sunday, their ringer score was 59, 12-under par. That left the rest of the field to fight for exemptions and honor. As for us, here are the five things we learned on Day 4 of the 2016 Open Championship..
Henrik Stenson turned in the greatest major performance of a new era
For the week, the Swede finished 20-under par, equaled Mickelson’s opening salvo with a 63 of his own on Sunday, and broke Tiger Woods’ Open record of 19-under at St. Andrews. He needed every great swing, too, because Mickelson would not go away.
Related: Henrik Stenson’s Winning WITB
Stenson’s first major championship win was also the first ever for a man from Sweden, allowing him to join countrywomen Liselotte Neumann, Annika Sorenstam and Anna Nordqvist as titleholders of golf’s greatest tournaments. He also kept alive an odd streak of first-time major winners at Troon, joining Mark Calcavecchia, Justin Leonard and Todd Hamilton as Open champions since 1989.
The winner of the gold medal and the Champion Golfer of the Year… #TheOpen pic.twitter.com/v7BAPIxiXN
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 17, 2016
The most difficult four-hole stretch in golf
The opening quadrilateral of Royal Troon’s back nine can make a case for that award, averaging between 4.2 and 4.6 strokes during the week. Whether it was Bubba Watson tugging an approach onto the railroad tracks on hole No. 11, Rickie Fowler hitting two balls out of bounds from the fairway on the same hole, or Thomas Pieters snapping his approach iron while train-wrecking with a nine, there was little love for holes 10 through 13 this week at Royal Troon.
The Railway has claimed two more victims – Thomas Pieters and one of Thomas Pieters' clubs: https://t.co/9lYKl2XUQu pic.twitter.com/fVKN4bCUK7
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) July 17, 2016
Phil Mickelson has found an equilibrium in the heat of competition
He has certainly lost majors that he should have won, and perhaps those misses have given Lefty a sense of perspective as he closes out his career on the regular Tour. At age 46, Mickelson understands that guys his age tend to not compete well for major titles, but he doesn’t plan to go forgotten into Ryder Cup captaincy, Champions Tour membership or any other non-PGA Tour element. While golfers ahead and behind him were making poor decisions, biting off more than they could chew, and imploding each of the four days, Phil kept his eyes focused, his strategy consistent, and his shots on target. His loss wasn’t as gut-wrenching as Tom Watson’s 2009 heartbreaker, but it reminded us that we have been fortunate to watch him assail golf courses with abandon for over two decades.
Mickelson saves par. The battle continues down the last. #TheOpenhttps://t.co/J3w8RDnE81
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 17, 2016
Golfers who might build from Sunday’s round
Remember what jump-started Jason Day last year at St. Andrews? With a chance to join the title playoff on the final green, Day left his putt short, in the jar. From there, he went on to win the Canadian Open, the PGA Championship and the Players Championship over the next eight months. Rory McIlroy moved up 13 spots, into the top five, with a Sunday 67. Steve Stricker and J.B. Holmes each jumped up two spots, into 4th and 3rd places, respectively. On the other side were Bill Haas (75 to drop to T9) and Andrew Johnston (73 to fall 4 spots to 8th place) and Rio-bound Matt Kuchar, down 21 spots with a 76. Might one of these six golfers use Troon as a springboard to greatness? We’ll soon find out.
Return to sender. Kuchar went back and forth (and back and forth) at the Postage Stamp: https://t.co/LGYQDbQM6k pic.twitter.com/Z7byEzSn3x
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) July 17, 2016
England might have the brightest future in golf
Four golfers with the red cross and white field to the left of their name on the scoreboard finished in the top twelve, topped only by the USA. And their names weren’t Willett or Rose or Westwood or Casey. True followers of the game have known who the Andrews (Sullivan and Johnston), Matthew Southgate and Tyrell Hatton are for months, if not years. Brexit notwithstanding, the coming years should see a surge in wins from this new generation of English stars, heralded by Danny Willett’s triumph at the Masters in April.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 RBC Heritage
GolfWRX is on site this week at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island for the RBC Heritage. Plenty of golfers who competed in the Masters last week will be making the quick turnaround in the Lowcountry of South Carolina as the Heritage is again one of the Tour’s Signature Events.
We have general albums for you to check out, as well as plenty of WITBs — including Justin Thomas and Justin Rose.
We’ll continue to update as more photos flow in from SC.
Check out links to all our photos, below.
General Albums
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #2
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Justin Thomas – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Rose – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Chandler Phillips – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Nick Dunlap – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Thomas Detry – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Austin Eckroat – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Jason Day – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Will Zalatoris – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Patrick Cantlay – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Ludvig Aberg – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Collin Morikawa – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Sam Burns – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Stephen Jaeger – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
Pullout Albums
- Wyndham Clark’s Odyssey putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- JT’s new Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Thomas testing new Titleist 2 wood – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey putter with triple track alignment aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Scotty Cameron The Blk Box putting alignment aid/training aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey Ai One Eleven T putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Christian Bezuidenhout – testing new Callaway Ti 340 mini driver – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Rory McIlroy testing the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele testing the Callaway Ti 340 mini driver & the DUW – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Byeong Hun An, two new L.A.B. Golf putter builds with “T” alignment – 2024 RBC Heritage
See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.
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#6
Jul 18, 2016 at 10:23 pm
ZJ’s bald spot is hard to look at, somebody please tell him to just shave it all off
Ronald Montesano
Jul 22, 2016 at 7:45 am
He might not take the advice seriously.
NAB
Jul 18, 2016 at 10:08 pm
can the winning difference, -20 by stenton hendrik (lowest in the open history) vs top 10 average of -4, be attributed solely to human factor?
the top 5 or 10 at any open hv to b in top form with the best arsenal, after qualifying, selection, cut etc.
Ronald Montesano
Jul 22, 2016 at 7:45 am
He appears to be as fit as they come, shirt on or off. His arms are like branches of trees, and his swing was so repetitive, all week.
Jack always
Jul 18, 2016 at 6:04 am
63 last day say no more awesome!!
Ronald Montesano
Jul 18, 2016 at 6:22 am
Sublime final round with those two. We the viewers were fortunate to have access. Two competitors enjoying each other’s company but focused solely on their own performances. Golf lost to greatness is no defeat.
Troy Vayanos
Jul 17, 2016 at 11:51 pm
Phil showed that he can still play with the younger guys on tour and put up a fantastic performance. In any other major tournament he would have claimed victory.
Stenson showed great fighting qualities to win his first major despite many people thinking his time had passed.
Will be an Open remembered for many years to come.
Ronald Montesano
Jul 22, 2016 at 7:46 am
Perhaps he gives hope to Lee Westwood? Luke Donald? Sergio Garcia?
RG
Jul 17, 2016 at 5:28 pm
I was so impressed when Phil took iron off the tee on the par 5 then hit 3wood. There are different ways to attack and sometimes finding the fairway, even if you are further back, is the best way.
Ronald Montesano
Jul 18, 2016 at 6:24 am
A few weeks back, I played a tournament on a local course with seven driveable par four holes. I know, that’s a lot. The young guys hit driver every time and reached near or on the green with many. Problem was, many trees near the green would leave you ten yards, twenty yards from glory, but with no shot. My plan was to lay back with 4 iron on every one, over the course of two days. The plan worked, as I always had a shot. It took me some years to learn that strategy wins out over strength, but the lesson is a valuable one.
golfraven
Jul 17, 2016 at 4:36 pm
Glat to see Stenson win in such a style. Probably the best final round I have seen in a decade, that was special. I have walked a round inside the ropes with Stenson and he is really fun to watch. Once the putter is going he is unstoppable. Big win big man ????????
Redx
Jul 17, 2016 at 5:19 pm
Agreed. I thought JDay holding off Speith at Whislting Straits was a great display but this Open was at another level altogether for head to head battles. Phil threw absolutely everything at Stenson, who responded brilliantly. A duel for the ages I suspect.
All class Henrik, all class!
Ronald Montesano
Jul 18, 2016 at 6:26 am
I confess I hadn’t seen a putter that lit in some time. No crack in that egg, and a major title properly and rightly owned by a complete performance. I’m sure that Sergio watched and said, hey, there’s hope for me, but I still have work to do.
Redx
Jul 20, 2016 at 5:53 am
I think Sergio’s still got every chance RM. He’s fit, healthy and enjoying life. Plays a judicious schedule. Has a win on tour this year and has shown good colour in both the US Open and The Open. All positives. Wanamaker bid?
Ronald Montesano
Jul 22, 2016 at 7:49 am
Redx,
Baltusrol has a recent way of identifying repeat major champs, so it doesn’t bode well for Sergio. I wonder who his caddie is and how much he truly helps. In this day, that caddie-player relationship is critical. It might be time for a change, but is the proper caddie available? Maybe Joe Lacava?