Sport

The Morning Sports Briefing

Scintillating Henrik Stenson wins duel for the ages, Tyrone edge out Donegal in Ulster epic, Galway and Dublin win provincial titles and Pantano takes stage 15

Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson walk off the 18th green arm in arm after their epic encounter at Royal Troon. Photograph: Getty
Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson walk off the 18th green arm in arm after their epic encounter at Royal Troon. Photograph: Getty
Mon Jul 18 2016 - 08:26

Scintillating Stenson wins Open

Henrik Stenson was crowned Open winner and the Champion Golfer of the Year yesterday after he produced one of the finest rounds ever seen at a Major championship to hold off Phil Mickelson and lift the Claret Jug at Royal Troon.

Stenson produced a scintillating final round of 63 to reach a tournament record score of 20-under-par, leaving the American - who shot a brilliant 65 of his own - three shots adrift of the Swede in second place and 11 shots ahead of JB Holmes in third.

The final day shootout between Stenson and Mickelson was highly anticipated and did not fail to deliver, emulating that of Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus in the 1977 Open. Philip Reid, at Royal Troon, writes: “And the two, who left the 18th green with each others’ arms wrapped around their shoulders, knew they had delivered one of the finest duels in the championship’s history.”

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Stenson now moves up to fifth in the world after his win at Troon, his maiden Major championship win after years of near misses - and he becomes Sweden’s first Major winner.

Tyrone champions of Ulster

Elsewhere Tyrone are champions of Ulster again after they wrestled the Anglo-Celt cup off Donegal in a sun-baked Clones yesterday.

It took two brilliant late points from Peter Harte and Ciaran McGeevy for Mickey Harte’s side to edge the epic 0-13 to 0-11 and win a first Ulster since 2010. Afterwards the Tyrone boss said: “This is the best of them all because of the famine that was there for six years and because of what had gone on before.

“And maybe Ulster titles were taken for granted and not enough joy put in when winning them. This is different, the county was waiting on this - and the fact it was Donegal in the final.”

Meanwhile in the day’s other provincial finals Galway thrashed Roscommon at the second time of asking, winning the Connacht replay 3-16 to 0-14, while Dublin eased to another Leinster title, seeing off Westmeath 2-19 to 0-10.

Pantano takes stage 15

And Jarlinson Pantano took the 15th stage of the Tour de France, with Chris Froome retaining the yellow jersey and Dan Martin holding onto ninth place.

What to watch out for:

Cycling

The 16th stage of the Tour de France to Berne (Eurosport 1 2pm-5pm, ITV4 2pm-5pm)