Mickelson’s ‘Jug of joy’ runneth over with Open win

It took Phil Mickelson 12 visits to the Open Championship before he made the top 10, the nuances of seaside golf seemingly ill-suited to his high-risk, all or nothing style.

Ever the showman, the oldest of the four Major championships caused him headaches and even nightmares at times, the luck of the bounce never quite going his way.

But at Muirfield in Scotland on Sunday, at the age of 43 and on his 20th visit to the Open, he finally got his hands on the Claret Jug with a brilliant final round.

His 5-under-par 66, which included four birdies in the last six holes, left him 3-under-par for the tournament and three shots clear of his nearest challenger, Henrik Stenson of Sweden.

“I never knew whether I would be equipped, have the shots, have the opportunity to do this,” an emotional Mickelson said as he accepted the trophy.

“This is such an accomplishment because I never knew whether I’d be able to develop my game to play links golf.

“To break through and capture this Claret Jug is one of the most fulfilling moments of my career.”

Mickelson has long been known as one of the most gifted players of his generation, or perhaps any, but the Open always seemed to be the one he could not master.

Three Masters wins and a US PGA victory were confirmation of his talent but it is a testament to his resilience and tenacity that he was able to win the Open on Sunday.

Driving the ball well and finding the right spots on the greens, he putted perfectly, completing the closing six holes - holes everyone else found desperately difficult - in 4-under-par to clinch a deserved victory for one of the most popular players in the sport.

Mickelson is the first man to win the Scottish Open and Open Championship in back-to-back weeks and his victory was doubly sweet having finished second in the US Open just last month.

“The range of emotions I feel are as far apart as possible after losing the US Open,” Mickelson said.

“To win this feels amazing. The range of emotions have been incredible but you have to be resilient in this game. These last couple of weeks, these last couple of months, I’ve played some of the best golf of my career.”

His closing birdie, which he celebrated with his arms aloft, was the perfect way to end and Mickelson revealed the nerves were beginning to get to him.

 “This was a day I’ll remember my entire life. It was one of the best rounds of golf I’ve ever played.

“To share it with Amy (his wife), my main man Bones (his caddie Jim Mackay), it just makes this moment even more special.”