Staff WriterAs the 153rd edition of The Open Championship returns to Royal Portrush, golf’s most historic prize will once again find itself pursued by a player whose name is etched into the tournament’s lore.
And no, this isn’t another Tiger tale or McIlroy homecoming. This is Henrik Stenson’s encore—nine years after he authored one of the greatest major performances the game has ever seen.
It was 2016 at Royal Troon where Stenson, the steely Swede with the laser irons and poker face, outdueled Phil Mickelson in what many still call the best final round duel in Open history. A 63 on Sunday, tying the lowest round ever in a major, sealed a record 20-under par finish. The Claret Jug had found a new home—and a hell of a story.
“It’s a dream winning a major championship. I said long before I won the Open, for me, that’s the one,” said Stenson last week at LIV Golf Andalucía. “Being European, that was the one I watched on TV and saw all my childhood idols play and win. So, it’s certainly very close to my heart. And the way I managed to win it, going up against one of the absolute best players of all time and taking him down in a duel, was special and something I’m very, very proud of.”
Now 49 and captaining Majesticks GC, Stenson heads back into The Open Championship fray not just as a former champion, but as part of a record-breaking LIV Golf contingent—19 players strong. Whatever you think of LIV, it’s impossible to ignore the firepower they’re bringing to Portrush.
Among them? Mickelson, of course, still swinging like a man allergic to laying up.
He’s joined by fellow Claret Jug winner Louis Oosthuizen (Stinger GC), whose tempo is smoother than a Linksland lager.
Add to that mix major winners Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Cameron Smith, Patrick Reed, and Sergio Garcia, and it’s less of a field, more of a cavalry charge.
And let’s not forget the local lad. Northern Ireland’s own Tom McKibbin (Majesticks GC) will be making his Open debut in front of a home crowd that still talks about Darren Clarke’s 2011 triumph over pints and porridge.
Also teeing it up: Dean Burmester, Tyrrell Hatton, Lucas Herbert, Jason Kokrak, Marc Leishman, Carlos Ortiz, Lee Westwood, and LIV’s 2025 individual leaderboard leader, Joaquin Niemann.
“It’s one of the highlights of the season every year, to go back to The Open Championship,” Stenson added. “I’m looking forward to Portrush. It was a great venue in 2019, the fans are great and it’s a nice town and golf course. So, I’m looking forward to it.”
While Stenson is more buttoned-up than brash, he’s no stranger to the modern shake-up LIV Golf represents.
And he’s not afraid to say what plenty are thinking: golf, like life, might just need both tradition and disruption to stay alive.
“We have these championships that have been around for hundreds of years, and of course, it’s great to have your name on that.
But it’s also been fun to be part of the LIV journey,” Stenson said. “LIV has come a long, long way in a short period of time, thanks to everyone working hard to get this to where it’s at.
“I think the world of golf enjoys both and needs both. Playing new formats, something that’s refreshing and a different twist on golf, can attract a different crowd…
That being said, I don’t think every golf tournament, or the major championships, need to have music on the tee box and shotgun starts. But they complement each other, and it might attract different golf fans.”
So as Royal Portrush braces for another chapter in golf’s most treasured tale, expect the old guard and new wave to collide. And don’t be surprised if, once again, it’s Henrik Stenson writing the headline.
Tickets for LIV Golf UK by JCB are available now at LIVGolf.com.
