It is not just Henrik Stenson who wishes he could bottle the Royal Troon scene of 51 weeks ago. If the organisers of the Open Championship ever need advertising material, or to supply proof to a cynical world that golf at the highest level can be box office stuff, Stenson’s mesmerising duel with Phil Mickelson represents exhibit A.
Stenson was to emerge victorious, his closing 63 contributing to the creation of Open records and proving sufficient to see off Mickelson by three shots. A misty Sunday afternoon on the Ayrshire coast was to provide the backdrop for the most epic battle, affording the Open status it probably needed amid the controversial switch away from live terrestrial television coverage.
“It made it so much more special competing in that fashion and winning the Claret Jug, playing against a golfing legend,” the 41-year-old says. “It means it will be remembered. When people are looking back at great major championships and are shown footage from our match, that all makes it so much more special to win in that manner. The confidence of knowing you can go in to the final round and shoot 63 to win a major championship will always be with me.
“A player of Phil’s calibre, give him two or three shots and you know it’s over. I just didn’t want him to get away with it. To me, it didn’t matter if I came second, third or fourth – there was only first. It was all about full steam ahead, and I guess being up against the best gives you that momentum to push harder. I was convinced it was going to be my day on the Sunday. I just had to breathe and play golf. I was so in the moment I didn’t realise my [number of] birdies.”
A relatively low-key year for Stenson owes plenty to the claiming of that first major title. The significance of Troon glory hit him hard, as did inevitable fatigue as time pressures became considerably more intense. “I’ve got a fourth baby,” he smiles. “It’s pride, it’s history – the Claret Jug is such an iconic, perfect trophy. It’s imprinted in your mind. I’m Claret Jug brainwashed.
“There have been some drinks with French heritage in that jug and some Sprite and cola for the kids. It’s been jet-skiing and if I defend my title and win again, I’ll take the Claret Jug sky-diving.”
Royal Birkdale is the venue for the 146th version of golf’s oldest major. There is a Stenson link beyond his status as defending champion; TV images of Ian Baker-Finch winning there in 1991 captured the teenage Swede’s imagination. “It’s just a different kind of golf,” Stenson adds. “I started playing a year or two before that. Just seeing the footage from the links and seeing that style of golf, it’s something I’d never seen or experienced in real life. It really got me intrigued and curious about links golf.
“For me it was always the one to win. If I’m only to win one championship this is the one it would be – being European I have watched my idols battle it out in the Open. It’s the oldest championship, it’s back to the roots; the crowd, the feel, the atmosphere, the history – everything about it is unique.”
A recent quirk relates to the number of major winners in succession – seven – who have done so for the first time. This run arrived after a stretch in which Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, Jason Day and Dustin Johnson had threatened to dominate during different periods.
McIlroy’s recent run might be understandable but it will still vex the Northern Irishman. When he won the US PGA Championship in 2014, it would have seemed fanciful that he would not have added to his major haul of four, almost three years on. 2017 has seen injury and, more pertinently than anyone has acknowledged, a full equipment change with McIlroy battling to remain patient as he seeks to return to winning ways.
Sergio García’s Open claims were strong even before he ended a painful major drought at Augusta National in April. Local focus will naturally be upon Tommy Fleetwood, the 26-year-old from Southport who has enjoyed a stunning year on both sides of the Atlantic.
“It’s going to be an amazing experience support-wise,” says Fleetwood. “It’s the one course in the area that I’ve probably got the least experience on, just because of the exclusivity of it; it’s Royal Birkdale. But I think looking at it and people wishing me good luck and people talking about it, it’s going to be an experience that I’ve never had in my life. I think very few people get the chance to have a home crowd that’s massively in their favour and play a tournament where, however many people will be watching me, will all want me to do well.”
Tickets for the 146th Open are available via theopen.com/tickets
