Royal Troon …

Sweden’s Henrik Stenson created Swedish golfing history in ending a 42-Majors winning drought to capture the 145th Open Championship at Royal Troon.

In a contest to mirror the famed ‘Duel in the Sun’ at Turnberry in 1977 Stenson went 36-holes with American Phil Mickelson to finally become a Major Champion with an equally historic 20-under par winning tally.

Sweden’s first Major Champion – Henrik Stenson. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)

“This will take a while to sink in, I am still getting my bearings,” said Stenson at the presentation ceremony.

“It seems like it was not going to be anyone else but the two of us. I am delighted to come out on top. Thank you very much for a great fight.

The Swede came into round four with a one-shot advantage over his American rival but the duo were tied at the top of the leader board with five holes to play as they went blow-for-blow in an enthralling contest.

A birdie on the par three 14th moved Stenson ahead and when he drained a remarkable 50-foot effort on the next, the pair were separated by two shots for the first time all day.

A brilliant up-and-down followed to maintain the gap and Stenson birdied the last to finish at 20 under with a 63 and beat Mickelson by three shots.

Stenson had finished second behind Mickelson at Muirfield in 2013 but the circumstances were very different here as the pair played together in the final group on Saturday and Sunday to produce a duel of the highest quality and drama.

As well as becoming Sweden’s first Major champion, Stenson broke a host of records with the lowest total to par in Open history and the lowest ever final round by a winner.

His 63 – a total matched by Mickelson on Thursday – equalled the lowest round in Major history and his 264 aggregate score is the lowest ever in a Major Championship.

He also moved level with Robert Karlsson on 11 European Tour wins, the most ever by a Swede, and adds Major glory to his 2013 Race to Dubai and FedEx Cup titles