Mickelson takes fifth major with British Open title

SAN DIEGO (CNS) – Hometown hero Phil Mickelson will return to San Diego
from Europe with his fifth major title, having won the British Open in
Muirfield, Scotland, in dramatic fashion over the weekend.

Mickelson won golf's oldest championship Sunday with the lowest final
round in his 80 majors. He closed with a 5-under 66 for a three-shot win over
Sweden's Henrik Stenson.

“Today was as good as I can play,” Mickelson said after his come-from-
behind victory. “It was one of my best rounds ever.”

At 43, Mickelson is the oldest British Open winner since Argentina's
Roberto De Vicenzo won it in 1967 at the age of 44.

Mickelson is also a 2005 PGA Championship winner and a three-times
Masters champion, winning in 2004, 2006 and 2010. He'll get a chance to win his
sixth major title in two weeks at the 2013 PGA Championship in Rochester, N.Y.

Congratulations for Mickelson poured in via Twitter from other
professional athletes.

“Congrats to Phil Mickelson — great champion, better man,” said
former World No. 1 professional tennis player Chris Evert.

And from 77-year-old South African golf legend Gary Player, a three-time
British Open winner: “Congratulations Phil Mickelson on a fantastic
The-Open victory. Only one more leg for the Grand Slam. So happy for you and
your lovely family.”

Younger golfers were no less impressed, as reflected by a tweet from 27-
year-old PGA golfer Keegan Bradley: “66 from Phil today is ridiculous. Best
golf I've ever seen.”

Local fans were also dining out on the victory, with San Diegan Marla
Araujo saying, “Congrats to our hometown champ Phil Mickelson.”

Another San Diegan, Scott Kruse, offered: “Congrats Phil Mickelson! One
of the classiest guys in sports holdin it down for San Diego.”