TROON, Scotland – It occurred to Phil Mickelson, more than once, that the Duel in the Sun happened 25 miles south of here at Turnberry in 1997 when a young Tom Watson went head-to-head with Jack Nicklaus and beat him.
Watson shot 65 to Nicklaus’ 66 and won his third major. Third-place Hubert Green was 10 shots behind Nicklaus.
So, while trading blows around Royal Troon Sunday to decide the 145th Open, Mickelson, a golf historian of sorts, couldn’t help but think about epic outcome nearly 40 years ago.