Phil Mickelson was locked in a tense exchange with a reporter when asked to cast his mind back to his near-miss to Henrik Stenson at the 2016 Open last time out at Royal Troon.
Mickelson, 54, might have tumbled down the world rankings to a current 203rd as a result of his $200m move to LIV Golf in 2022, but the six-time major champion is eligible to compete in next week’s 152nd Open Championship at Troon as a result of having etched his name on the famous Claret Jug at Muirfield in 2013.
Speaking ahead of LIV Golf Andalucia this week, Lefty was asked by a reporter to throw it back eight years to that final-day tussle with Stenson.
Mickelson shot 65 but Stenson went even better with a 63.
The Swede, who is now also on LIV Golf, finished the week on 20-under par and three shots clear of Mickelson.
The duo spreadeagled the field with JB Holmes 11 shots back of Mickelson in third.
It still pains Mickelson to this day that he played as well as he did only to fail in his bid for a second Open title.
