Magnificent Mickelson’s Muirfield of dreams

The emotion of the moment was all too clear in his face as Phil Mickelson sank the winning birdie putt, bowed his head, clenched his fists and raised his hands above his head to acknowledge the acclaim he just become Open champion.

For once, no grin radiated across his face – that would come later – and nor was there that twinkle in the eyes that has won the hearts of golf fans across the globe. Instead there was a thousand-yard stare and almost a grimace that spoke of shellshock at the achievement of a long-held yet seemingly unattainable ambition.

In the most difficult conditions of this week at Muirfield, the 43-year-old American had completed a scintillating five-under-par final round of 66 he would describe as “probably the best of my career” and that with eight players still out on the course was already good enough to deliver the Claret Jug at the 20th attempt.