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5 things we learned from the final round of the Open Championship

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9 years ago

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Since Saturday morning, we had an inkling that Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson would revisit the famous 1977 Duel In The Sun of Watson and Nicklaus. On Sunday, their ringer score was 59, 12-under par. That left the rest of the field to fight for exemptions and honor. As for us, here are the five things we learned on Day 4 of the 2016 Open Championship..

Henrik Stenson turned in the greatest major performance of a new era

For the week, the Swede finished 20-under par, equaled Mickelson’s opening salvo with a 63 of his own on Sunday, and broke Tiger Woods’ Open record of 19-under at St. Andrews. He needed every great swing, too, because Mickelson would not go away.

Related: Henrik Stenson’s Winning WITB

Stenson’s first major championship win was also the first ever for a man from Sweden, allowing him to join countrywomen Liselotte Neumann, Annika Sorenstam and Anna Nordqvist as titleholders of golf’s greatest tournaments. He also kept alive an odd streak of first-time major winners at Troon, joining Mark Calcavecchia, Justin Leonard and Todd Hamilton as Open champions since 1989.

The most difficult four-hole stretch in golf

The opening quadrilateral of Royal Troon’s back nine can make a case for that award, averaging between 4.2 and 4.6 strokes during the week. Whether it was Bubba Watson tugging an approach onto the railroad tracks on hole No. 11, Rickie Fowler hitting two balls out of bounds from the fairway on the same hole, or Thomas Pieters snapping his approach iron while train-wrecking with a nine, there was little love for holes 10 through 13 this week at Royal Troon.

Phil Mickelson has found an equilibrium in the heat of competition

He has certainly lost majors that he should have won, and perhaps those misses have given Lefty a sense of perspective as he closes out his career on the regular Tour. At age 46, Mickelson understands that guys his age tend to not compete well for major titles, but he doesn’t plan to go forgotten into Ryder Cup captaincy, Champions Tour membership or any other non-PGA Tour element. While golfers ahead and behind him were making poor decisions, biting off more than they could chew, and imploding each of the four days, Phil kept his eyes focused, his strategy consistent, and his shots on target. His loss wasn’t as gut-wrenching as Tom Watson’s 2009 heartbreaker, but it reminded us that we have been fortunate to watch him assail golf courses with abandon for over two decades.

Golfers who might build from Sunday’s round

Remember what jump-started Jason Day last year at St. Andrews? With a chance to join the title playoff on the final green, Day left his putt short, in the jar. From there, he went on to win the Canadian Open, the PGA Championship and the Players Championship over the next eight months. Rory McIlroy moved up 13 spots, into the top five, with a Sunday 67. Steve Stricker and J.B. Holmes each jumped up two spots, into 4th and 3rd places, respectively. On the other side were Bill Haas (75 to drop to T9) and Andrew Johnston (73 to fall 4 spots to 8th place) and Rio-bound Matt Kuchar, down 21 spots with a 76. Might one of these six golfers use Troon as a springboard to greatness? We’ll soon find out.

England might have the brightest future in golf

Four golfers with the red cross and white field to the left of their name on the scoreboard finished in the top twelve, topped only by the USA. And their names weren’t Willett or Rose or Westwood or Casey. True followers of the game have known who the Andrews (Sullivan and Johnston), Matthew Southgate and Tyrell Hatton are for months, if not years. Brexit notwithstanding, the coming years should see a surge in wins from this new generation of English stars, heralded by Danny Willett’s triumph at the Masters in April.

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Ronald Montesano writes for GolfWRX.com from western New York. He dabbles in coaching golf and teaching Spanish, in addition to scribbling columns on all aspects of golf, from apparel to architecture, from equipment to travel. Follow Ronald on Twitter at @buffalogolfer.

15 Comments

15 Comments

  1. #6

    Jul 18, 2016 at 10:23 pm

    ZJ’s bald spot is hard to look at, somebody please tell him to just shave it all off

    Reply Report comment

  2. NAB

    Jul 18, 2016 at 10:08 pm

    can the winning difference, -20 by stenton hendrik (lowest in the open history) vs top 10 average of -4, be attributed solely to human factor?

    the top 5 or 10 at any open hv to b in top form with the best arsenal, after qualifying, selection, cut etc.

    Reply Report comment

    • Ronald Montesano

      Jul 22, 2016 at 7:45 am

      He appears to be as fit as they come, shirt on or off. His arms are like branches of trees, and his swing was so repetitive, all week.

      Reply Report comment

  3. Jack always

    Jul 18, 2016 at 6:04 am

    63 last day say no more awesome!!

    Reply Report comment

    • Ronald Montesano

      Jul 18, 2016 at 6:22 am

      Sublime final round with those two. We the viewers were fortunate to have access. Two competitors enjoying each other’s company but focused solely on their own performances. Golf lost to greatness is no defeat.

      Reply Report comment

  4. Troy Vayanos

    Jul 17, 2016 at 11:51 pm

    Phil showed that he can still play with the younger guys on tour and put up a fantastic performance. In any other major tournament he would have claimed victory.

    Stenson showed great fighting qualities to win his first major despite many people thinking his time had passed.

    Will be an Open remembered for many years to come.

    Reply Report comment

  5. RG

    Jul 17, 2016 at 5:28 pm

    I was so impressed when Phil took iron off the tee on the par 5 then hit 3wood. There are different ways to attack and sometimes finding the fairway, even if you are further back, is the best way.

    Reply Report comment

    • Ronald Montesano

      Jul 18, 2016 at 6:24 am

      A few weeks back, I played a tournament on a local course with seven driveable par four holes. I know, that’s a lot. The young guys hit driver every time and reached near or on the green with many. Problem was, many trees near the green would leave you ten yards, twenty yards from glory, but with no shot. My plan was to lay back with 4 iron on every one, over the course of two days. The plan worked, as I always had a shot. It took me some years to learn that strategy wins out over strength, but the lesson is a valuable one.

      Reply Report comment

  6. golfraven

    Jul 17, 2016 at 4:36 pm

    Glat to see Stenson win in such a style. Probably the best final round I have seen in a decade, that was special. I have walked a round inside the ropes with Stenson and he is really fun to watch. Once the putter is going he is unstoppable. Big win big man ????????

    Reply Report comment

    • Redx

      Jul 17, 2016 at 5:19 pm

      Agreed. I thought JDay holding off Speith at Whislting Straits was a great display but this Open was at another level altogether for head to head battles. Phil threw absolutely everything at Stenson, who responded brilliantly. A duel for the ages I suspect.
      All class Henrik, all class!

      Reply Report comment

      • Ronald Montesano

        Jul 18, 2016 at 6:26 am

        I confess I hadn’t seen a putter that lit in some time. No crack in that egg, and a major title properly and rightly owned by a complete performance. I’m sure that Sergio watched and said, hey, there’s hope for me, but I still have work to do.

        Reply Report comment

        • Redx

          Jul 20, 2016 at 5:53 am

          I think Sergio’s still got every chance RM. He’s fit, healthy and enjoying life. Plays a judicious schedule. Has a win on tour this year and has shown good colour in both the US Open and The Open. All positives. Wanamaker bid?

          Reply Report comment

          • Ronald Montesano

            Jul 22, 2016 at 7:49 am

            Redx,

            Baltusrol has a recent way of identifying repeat major champs, so it doesn’t bode well for Sergio. I wonder who his caddie is and how much he truly helps. In this day, that caddie-player relationship is critical. It might be time for a change, but is the proper caddie available? Maybe Joe Lacava?

            Reply Report comment

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Tour Rundown: Bend, but don’t break

Published

3 weeks ago

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Aug 4, 2025

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I’m going to gush in this intro paragraph, to get the emo stuff done early. I’ve not pulled harder for a professional to win, than Cameron Young. I coach golf in New York state, and each spring, my best golfers head to a state championship in Poughkeepsie. I first saw Cameron there as a 9th grade student. I saw him three more times after that. I reconnecected with Coach Haas from Wake Forest, an old interview subject from my days on the Old Gold and Black, the Wake newspaper. He was there to watch Cameron. After four years at Wake Forest, Young won on the Korn Ferry Tour, made it to the big tour, almost won two majors, almost won five other events, and finally got the chalice about 25 minutes from the Wake campus. Congratulations, Cameron. You truly are a glass of the finest. #MotherSoDear

OK, let’s move on to the Tour Rundown. The major championship season closed this week in Wales, with the Women’s Open championship. The PGA Tour bounced through Greensboror, N.C., while the PGA Tour Americas hit TO (aka, Toronto) for a long-winded event. The Korn Ferry lads made a stop in Utah, one of just two events for that tour in August. The many-events, golf season is winding down, as we ease from summer toward fall in the northern hemisphere. Let’s bask in the glory of an August sunrise, and run down a quartet of events from the first weekend of the eighth month.

LET/LPGA @ Women’s Open: Miyu bends, but she doesn’t break

Royal Porthcawl was not a known commodity in the major tournament community. The Welsh links had served as host to men’s senior opens, men’s amateurs, and Curtis and Walker Cups in prior years, but never an Open championship for the women or the men. The last-kept secret in UK golf was revealed once again to the world this week, as the best female golfers took to the sandy stage.

Mao Saigo, Grace Kim, Maja Stark, and Minjee Lee hoped to add a second major title to previous wins this season, but only Lee was able to finish inside the top ten. The 2025 playing of the Women’s Open gave us a new-faces gallery from day one. The Kordas and Thitikulls were nowhere to be found, and it was the Mayashitas, Katsus, and Lim Kims that secured the Cymru spotlight. The first round lead was held at 67 by two golfers. One of them battled to the end, while the other posted 81 on day two, and missed the cut. Sitting one shot behind was Miyu Yamashita.

On day two, Yamashita posted the round of the tournament. Her 65 moved her to the front of the aisle, in just her fourth turn around a women’s Open championship. With the pre-event favorites drifting off pace, followers narrowed into two camps: those on the side of an underdog, and others hoping for a weekend charge from back in the pack. In the end, we had a bit of both.

On Saturday, Yamashita bent with 74 on Saturday, offering rays of hope to her pursuing pack. England’s Charley Hull made a run on Sunday closing within one shot before tailing off to a T2 finish with Minami Katsu. Katsu posted the other 65 of the week, on Saturday, but could not overtake her countrywoman, Yamashita. wunderkind Lottie Woad needed one round in the 60s to find her pace, but could only must close-to’s, ending on 284 and a tie with Minjee for eighth.

On Sunday, Yamashita put away the thoughts of Saturday’s struggles, with three-under 33 on the outward half. She closed in plus-one 37, but still won by two, for a first Major and LPGA title.

PGA Tour @ Wyndham: Young gathers first title near home

Cameron Young grew up along the Hudson river, above metro New York, but he also calls Winston-Salem home. He spent four years as a student and athlete at Wake Forest University, then embarked on tour. This week in Greensboro, after a bit of a break, Young opened with 63-62, and revved the engine of Is this the week once more. Runner-up finishes at the Open, the PGA, and a handful of PGA Tour events had followers wonder when the day would come.

On Saturday, Young continued his torrid pace with 65, giving him a five-shot advantage over his closest pursuer. Sunday saw the Scarborough native open with bogey, then reel off five consecutive birdies to remind folks that his time had, at last, arrived. Pars to the 16th, before two harmless bogeys coming home, made Young the 1000th winner of an official PGA Tour event (dating back to before there was a PGA Tour) throughout history. What’s next? I have a suspicion, but I’m not letting on. Mac Meissner closed with 66 to finish solo 2nd, while Mark Hubbard and Alex Noren tied for third.

Korn Ferry Tour @ Utah Championship: Are you Suri it’s Julian?

Who knows exactly when the flower will bloom? Julian Suri played a solid careet at Duke University, then paid his dues on the world’s minor tours for three years. He won twice on two tours in Europe, in 2017. Since then, the grind has continued for the journeyman from New York city. At age 34, Suri broke through in Beehive state, outlasting another grinder (Spencer Levin) and four others, by two shots.

Taylor Montgomery began the week with 62, then posted 64, then 68, and finally, 70. That final round was his undoing. He finished in that second-place tie, two back of the leader. Trace Crowe, Barend Botha, and Kensei Hirata made up the last of the almost quintet. As for Suri, his Sunday play was sublime. His nines were 32 and 31, with his only radar blip a bogey at ten. He closed in style with one final birdie, to double his winning margin. Hogan bloomed late…might Suri?

PGA Tour Americas @ Osprey Valley Open presented by Votorantim Cimentos – CBM Aggregates

Some tournament names run longer than others. This week in Toronto, at the Heathlands course at TPC Toronto, we might have seen the longest tournament title in recorded history. The OVOPBVCCBMA was a splendid affair. It saw three rounds of 62 on Thursday, but of those early risers, only Drew Goodman would stick around until the end. 64 was the low tally on day two, and two of those legionnaires managed to finish inside the top three at week’s end. Saturday brought a 63 from Patrick Newcomb, and he would follow with 64 on Sunday, to finish solo fourth.

Who, then, ended up winning the acronym of the year? It turns out that Carson Bacha had the right stuff in TeeOhhh. Bacha and Jay Card III posted 63 and 64, respectively, on day four, to tie for medalist honors at 23-under 261. Nathan Franks was one shot adrift, despite also closing with 63. If you didn’t go low on Sunday, it was about the check, not the championship.

Bacha and JC3 returned to the 18th hole twice in overtime. Card nearly chipped in from the thick stuff for birdie, while Bacha peeked and shoved a ten-feet attempt at the win. On the second go-round, Card was long with his approach, into the native grasses once more. He was unable to escape, and a routine par from the fairway was enough to earn the former Auburn golfers a first KFT title.

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Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2025 Wyndham Championship

Published

4 weeks ago

on

Jul 29, 2025

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GolfWRX is live this week from the final event of the PGA Tour’s regular season, the Wyndham Championship.

Photos are flowing into the forums from Sedgefield Country Club, where we already have a GolfWRX spirit animal Adam Schenk WITB and plenty of putters for your viewing pleasure.

Check out links to all our photos below, which we’ll continue to update as more arrive.

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.

 

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BK’s Breakdowns: Kurt Kitayama’s Winning WITB, 3M Open

Published

4 weeks ago

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Jul 28, 2025

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Kurt Kitayama just won his 2nd PGA Tour event at the 3M Open. Kurt is a Bridgestone staffer but with just the ball and bag. Here are the rest of the clubs he used to secure a win at the 2025 3M Open.

Driver: Titleist GT3 (11 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD VF 7 TX

3-wood: Titleist GT1 3Tour (14.5 degrees, A3 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 8 TX

7-wood: Titleist GT1 (21 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 9 TX

Irons: TaylorMade P7CB (4), TaylorMade P7MB (5-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (52-12F, 56-14F), Vokey Design WedgeWorks (60-K*)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Putter: Scotty Cameron Studio Style Newport 2 Tour Prototype
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy 1.0PT

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Ball: Bridgestone Tour B XS (with Mindset)

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