While it was just eight years ago, the final round of the 2016 Open Championship is already revered as one of the best golf duels of all time. The level of golf played by both Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson is nearly unmatched in golf history.

After a full week of prepping for our return trip to Royal Troon, there is no better way to set yourself up for the 2024 edition than by revisiting what we saw in 2016. The Open has both the full four-hour broadcast as well as an edited 40-minute version available for your viewing pleasure this evening. They’re well worth your time, especially for those who haven’t revisited the shots that were hit on that memorable day in July.

Both versions begin with one of the announcers talking about Phil’s chance at history. “At 46 years old, looking to become the second-oldest winner ever of the Open. Old Tom Morris back in 1867 was just slightly older but he was born on the same day as Phil Mickelson, the 16th of June.” Knowing that he came up short, the words are a bit haunting. Still, it’s a scene-setting opener that colors the rest of the viewing experience.

The 16 defining shots of the 2016 Open Championship final round

Shot 1 – Immediately, Phil hits his first iron shot of the day to near gimme range. Throughout the round, you can’t help but notice just how crisp every one of Phil’s iron shots sound. The birdie set up a two-shot swing and put him one ahead of Stenson.

Shot 2 –After missing wide of the green, Phil damn near chips in for his second birdie of the day.

Shot 3 – The first of many not-so-fast moments of the day. The Swede rolls in a 12-footer to pull back even with Phil.

After both players hit good approaches into the par-4 third, the announcer remarks, “I don’t think they’re messing about, are they?”

Shot 4 – A few holes later, after Mickelson eagles the par-5 4th to pull even with Stenson again, we see the first moment where things could have gone off the rails. Phil’s tee shot on No. 7 goes way left, hits a fan, and avoids the gorse bushes that would have certainly resulted in a lost ball. If that ball disappears, all the energy could have been sucked out of that final round. 

Shot 5 – The Mongolian reversal. Putting first, Stenson rolls in his fifth birdie of the day and watches as Mickelson misses from closer range to give Henrik a one-shot lead. 

Shot 6 – From the brush right of the 10th fairway, Phil hits an incredible shot to just above the hole with Henrik way down the fairway in great position.

Shot 7 – Stenson answers with a brilliant approach of his own, leading to yet another birdie and a temporary two-shot lead.

Shot 8 – Unlike the putt on No. 8, Phil makes this birdie to remain just one back of Stenson. He’s not giving an inch and lets out a subtle fist pump that means more than it looks on screen. 

Shot 9 – After his first wayward iron shot of the day, Phil is in dire straits in knee high grass. Somehow, he gets his pitch on the green and rolls in a 40-footer to save par, keeping himself within striking distance. It’s yet another spot where he could have let the day slip away, but instead he stays just one shot behind.

Shot 10 – After falling one shot back on No. 14, on the long par-4 15th, Mickelson falls in love with his approach and says “be right.” He comes up short on the front of the green, but it puts a serious amount of pressure for Stenson to come through with a shot of his own. Henrik finds the surface but is a long way away.

Shot 11 – The moment. Putting from well outside Phil, Henrik rolls in his eighth birdie of the day. He lets out a huge fist pump and leaves the green two up with three to play.

Shot 12 – Almost immediately, Stenson’s two-shot lead seems incredibly slim. Mickelson finds the par-5 16th green in two and has a great look at eagle while Henrik misses way left in the brush. Of course, he hits a brilliant approach and leaves himself a straightforward birdie.

Shot 13 – Needing eagle, Phil’s putt cuts hard across the front lip on the 16th and somehow he gains no ground on Henrik despite outplaying him significantly on the hole.

Shot 14 – One of the most difficult iron shots on the course, Henrik steps up and fires yet another beauty into the 17th. It took a ton of air out of Phil’s sails and made any comeback seem almost insurmountable.

Shot 15 – The duel wouldn’t be settled without one last bit of drama. Stenson’s tee shot on No. 18 rolls forever and nearly reaches the fairway bunker that would have forced a pitch out. As the ball is rolling, the announcer says “He’s not done a Greg Norman?” When the ball finally stops just a foot short of the sand, “He very nearly did a Greg Norman, Greg drove it in that bunker in ‘89.”

Shot 16 – Needing one final shot, Henrik stripes an iron to the center of the green. Seemingly seconds after impact, he turns to his caddie and hands him the club. The job was done.

One final note: after Stenson’s putt for 63 lips in, there is a great camera angle that holds on Phil’s face for a few seconds. He’s smiling, watching as that day’s rival soaks in a moment that Mickelson can’t believe isn’t his. His eyes are hollow,but he puts on as brave a face as he possibly can. At 46 years old, you can tell he thinks it may have been his final chance. Little does he know what awaits at Kiawah.

For more coverage of the Open Championship, visit our Open hub.