STATBOX-Golf-British Open winner Phil Mickelson

STATBOX-Golf-British Open winner Phil Mickelson

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July 21, 2013 2:24 PM


GULLANE, Scotland, July 21 (Reuters) - Statbox on Phil Mickelson after the 43-year-old American won the 142ndBritish Open at Muirfield on Sunday: * Could rise from fifth to second in the world rankings when they are published on Monday * His fifth major victory came in his 84th appearance in one of golf's big four championships * His first British Open win came on his 20th outing, matchingDarren Clarke's record for the most appearances before winning the event for the first time * Win eclipsed his previous best British Open finish of tied second in 2011 * Victory was third top-10 finish in the championship * Totals 35 top-10 finishes in 84 majors * Has won three of the four majors having also triumphed at the 2004, 2006 and 2010 U.S. Masters and the 2005 U.S. PGA Championship * As Scottish Open champion, he becomes the second player to win the week before and then go on to land the British Open, emulating Lee Trevino in 1971 who also won the Canadian Open the week before * It is the second time he has won the week before a major and then won the following week. He also achieved the feat in 2006, capturing the BellSouth Classic before the U.S. Masters

* Second left-hander to win British Open, following New Zealander Bob Charles in 1963

* Closing six-under 66 matched the lowest round of the championship

* First American to win a major since Webb Simpson at the 2012 U.S. Open

* Becomes third consecutive player in his 40s to win the championship, following Darren Clarke (42 in 2011) and Ernie Els (42 in 2012). Mickelson is 43


* First time three consecutive Opens have been won by players aged 40 and over

* Oldest Open champion since Argentine Roberto de Vicenzo who was 44 when he won in 1967

* Oldest major champion since Ben Crenshaw who was 43 when he won the 1995 Masters

* Fifth oldest winner of the Open, following Tom Morris sr (46 - 1867), de Vicenzo, Harry Vardon (44 in 1914) and Tom Morris snr (43 in 1864)

* It was his 49th professional victory (Compiled by Tony Jimenez)

Golf-List of British Open winners since 1970

Golf-List of British Open winners since 1970

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July 21, 2013 2:28 PM


July 21 (Reuters) - List of British Open winners since 1970 after American Phil Mickelson won the 142nd championship at Muirfield, Scotland on Sunday (U.S. unless stated):

2013 Phil Mickelson

2012 Ernie Els (South Africa)

2011 Darren Clarke (Northern Ireland)

2010 Louis Oosthuizen (South Africa)

2009 Stewart Cink

2008 Padraig Harrington (Ireland)

2007 Harrington

2006 Tiger Woods

2005 Woods

2004 Todd Hamilton

2003 Ben Curtis

2002 Els

2001 David Duval

2000 Woods

1999 Paul Lawrie (Scotland)

1998 Mark O'Meara

1997 Justin Leonard

1996 Tom Lehman

1995 John Daly

1994 Nick Price (Zimbabwe)

1993 Greg Norman (Australia)


1992 Nick Faldo (England)

1991 Ian Baker-Finch (Australia)

1990 Faldo

1989 Mark Calcavecchia

1988 Seve Ballesteros (Spain)

1987 Faldo

1986 Norman

1985 Sandy Lyle (Scotland)

1984 Ballesteros

1983 Tom Watson

1982 Watson

1981 Bill Rogers

1980 Watson

1979 Ballesteros

1978 Jack Nicklaus

1977 Watson

1976 Johnny Miller

1975 Watson

1974 Gary Player (South Africa)

1973 Tom Weiskopf

1972 Lee Trevino

1971 Trevino

1970 Nicklaus (Compiled by Tony Jimenez)

Golf-Stenson so close but Sweden's long wait goes on

Golf-Stenson so close but Sweden's long wait goes on

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July 21, 2013 2:45 PM


By Ed Osmond

GULLANE, Scotland, July 21 (Reuters) - Henrik Stensoncontinued his recent resurgence with a calm final round of 70 to finish runner-up to Phil Mickelson in the British Open on Sunday.

He emulated the feat of compatriot Jesper Parnevik, who was second in the 1994 and 1997 Opens, but Sweden's long wait for a first major champion goes on.

"I felt the support from the Swedes and a lot of the crowds in general today," said Stenson who finished tied third in the 2008 and 2010 Opens.

"And of course I want to make it happen. But all you can do is ask to give yourself a chance and I did that."


Stenson rose to number four in the world in 2009, a year in which he won the prestigious Players Championship in Florida, but slipped back to 230th in the rankings before his recent return to form.

He won his first European Tour title for five years at the South African Open in November and has climbed back to number 30 in the world.

"I'm very pleased with my performance over the week and today more so than yesterday," Stenson told reporters.

"I thought I was in a good frame of mind and played some good golf. It was tougher out there today wind-wise and I got off to a great start.

"So I take a lot of positives and we'll be back trying again," added Stenson who also won the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in 2007.

The former Ryder Cup player said he had made improvements in his game this season but still lacked confidence in some areas.

He birdied two of the first three holes on Sunday, and picked up two more shots at the ninth and 17th, but bogeys on the eighth, 12th and 13th left him three shots adrift of champion Phil Mickelson.

"I've played this golf course very good," Stenson said. "Even though I made a few mistakes, I haven't made big mistakes that put me out of the tournament. Mentally, I've been in a good place all week.

"Experience is obviously a key factor and I've learned a lot this week. I'm ready to be back next year or at the U.S. PGA Championship next month and hopefully I can put myself in another good position." (Editing by Tony Jimenez)