There’s still half the round to be played, but what we’ve seen so far Sunday at The Open is one of the great all-time two-man matches in a major championship. Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson started the day ahead of the field, Mickelson five strokes in front of third place and Stenson six. Now? They’re lapping everyone else, pouring in birdies and an eagle through the first eight holes to put on a show and put third place eight shots back of their outrageous pace.
The Open leaderboard 2016: Phil Mickelson, Henrik Stenson put on an unforgettable show
The Open has been a two-man race all weekend, but the way that Phil Mickelson and Henrik Stenson exchanged birdies on Sunday’s front nine was one of the best duels we’ve ever seen in a major.
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The lead changed throughout the first four holes, beginning with No. 1, where Phil dropped a dart right on top of the flagstick for a tap-in birdie.
Stenson would make a fairly inexcusable bogey on the hole, which is among the easiest on the course, and we had our two-shot swing to flip the top of the leaderboard right away.
That was about the only slip-up for the Swede on the opening nine. He made birdies on the next three holes, then added two more at the 6th and Postage Stamp 8th. It’s been outstanding to watch one of the premier talents for so long absolutely stripe it in the biggest moment of his career. He’d never had a 54-hole solo lead at a major, and there was a question or two about how he’d handle it, especially alongside a megastar and five-time major champion. The opening stretch at Royal Troon is certainly on the easier side, but five birdies in seven holes is ridiculous.
The birdies from Stenson were matched by an eagle from Phil at the par-5 4th.
Mickelson eagles the fourth to tie the lead with Stenson at -14. https://t.co/5vUCcbBs5e #TheOpen pic.twitter.com/9cTB08az2I
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 17, 2016
The level of golf has just been astonishing — it’s as if they’re playing a different course. The two are obviously feeding off each other, as well, laughing at times after one hits another perfect shot to keep the match alive. Two birdies at the 6th pushed the pace to 15-under.
Anything you can do...#TheOpen pic.twitter.com/8HMLZSu8SF
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 17, 2016
Through nine holes, the two have seven birdies and an eagle between them. Now the fun begins on the second nine, which is exceptionally harder than that opening nine. Regardless of what happens coming into the house, the start to this Sunday round has been unforgettable to watch.
Here’s your leaderboard, but does it really even matter after the top two names?
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