A spectacular Sunday brought the Claret Jug to Henrik Stenson, who survived a with Phil Mickelsonin the 145th British Open atRoyal Troon.Here are three things we learned while marveling at the pair's skills.MORE: |1. Two 40-somethingscan show the youngsters how to think your way around a course.As much young talent as has arrived on the PGA and European tours in recent years, the bomb-and-gouge brigade couldn't overwhelm a cla sic oldcourse. Two veterans proved that they not only can compete at golf's highest level, but also the value of playing the game's angles.At one point in a stretch from Nos. 2through 10, Stenson, 40, showed the value of hitting fairways and greens,
DeMarcus Lawrence Jersey running off six birdies. Meanwhile, Mickelson, 48,wasn't as accurate off the tee but showed the kind
Dallas Cowboys Pet Gear of imagination from the roughthat comes with age and major experience and none of the yippine s with the putter that many his age give way to although changing putting grips mid-round is, um, different. Rory McIlroy, 27, posted a 4-under 67 on Sunday, but the tournament got away from him, Jason Day, Rickie Fowler and Jordan Spieth in the previous days'wild shots in the wind.MORE: 2. Good players thrive on good play.By six holes into Sunday's round, this basically was a match-play event and that affected how the back nine progre sed. Case in point: Mickelson putted out for par on No. 11 to put pre sure on Stenson, who held a one-shot lead until he mi sed hisrelatively short par putt after Mickelson's make. Beyond gamesmanship, however, there was a rising tide lifting both players. While Mickelson could've become frustrated by a barrage of fairways, greens and made 20-foot birdie putts, the American instead was inspired and doggedly matched his competitor clutch swing for clutch swing. Similarly, Stenson, searching for his first major victory against one of the game's more popular players, calmly met the challenge with a remarkable day
Alfred Morris Jersey of golf. His opening bogey could've touched off a collapse. Instead, it did just opposite, igniting an incredibly entertaining front 9 as he and Mickelson punched and counter-punched. Only when Stenson walked in a 51-foot birdie putt on No. 15 to give him a two-shot lead did yousee a separation they'd played 19 consecutive holes either tied or within one shot of one another. "I though we played some pretty good golf," Mickelson said afterwardin a cla sic bit of understatement.MORE: 3. The year's final major has an intriguing plot line.The quick turnaround to the PGA Championship it moves out of its usual August spotbecause of golf's return to the Olympics makes Baltusrol must-see viewing for golf fans July 28-31. The last (and
Dallas Cowboys Jackets only) time the PGA was played on the Lower Course, Mickelson won in 2005. Eleven years later, and fresh off his showing at Royal Troon, he has to be incredibly confident heading to Springfield, N.J. "I like how my game is coming around," he said after Sunday's round. Meantime, the top players who won't be at Rio (including defending PGA winner Jason Day), will be at Baltusrol, meaning a tournament that celebrates
Tyler Smith Jersey the PGA's 100th anniversary could be considered more compelling than whatever transpires in golf's first appearance in the Olympics since 1904 in St. Louis.Danny Willett (the Masters),Dustin Johnson (U.S. Open) and Stenson (British) will try and double up on2016 majors, while Mickelson tries to channel equal part of August of '05 and this week of '16.
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