And so it was not to be Westwood's year.
After going into the final round of the Open Championship with a 2 shot lead, which was extended to 3 at one point, Lee Westwood's bid for immortality eventually faded away with a string of wayward blows. Tiger Woods challenge never materialised though Ian Poulter made a determined bid from several strokes back, though he also faltered towards the end. Others came and went at the front, including my own choice for the title, Adam Scott, who looked a near certainty before either the course or his nerves, or both, produced several dropped shots in quick succession.
At the death it was the American Phil Mickelson who burst out of the pack with a magnificent round of 66 and claimed a title he's always coveted. Mickelson's eventual winning margin of 3 shots was a true reflection of his dominance on a day when few others made a real challenge and most of the round 3 leaders simply fell away. It was his 5th major triumph and he also became the first golfer to win the Scottish Open and The Open in successive weeks. Westwood finished third, alongside Ian Poulter and Adam Scott, 4 shots behind, while the runner-up was the hardly-mentioned Henrik Stenson.
Mickelson is one of those sportsmen about whom it's very hard to find anything bad to say. He is always courteous and polite, he smiles a lot with no effort and he truly loves his sport. He also loves his family and is effusive in his thanks to and praise for others; in short Phil Mickelson is a truly great sportsman. If he has one slight drawback, it's that he's American and not British, but he's also such a great gentleman I'm even prepared to forgive him that and cheer him on.
Well done, Phil Mickelson, "Winner of the Gold Medal and Champion Golfer for the Year" !
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