Phil Mickelson shows true colours with message to Open winner Xander Schauffele

 

Phil Mickelson took to social media to extend his congratulations to Xander Schauffele after the American golfer clinched a breathtaking Open Championship victory.

 

On Sunday, Schauffele shot an impeccable six-under 65 in the final round at Royal Troon, securing his second major title of the year. His stunning performance narrowly edged out Justin Rose and Billy Horschel for the Claret Jug. Schauffele now joins the legendary Jack Nicklaus as one of the few players to win multiple major championships by shooting final rounds of 65 or lower.

 

Immediately following Schauffele’s crowning as Champion Golfer of The Year, Mickelson shared a heartfelt message on social media. He wrote: “What an incredible performance by @XSchauffele. A final round 65 with -4 on the difficult back 9 to win The Open and become CGOTY is simply amazing. Congratulations, what a year, keep it up in Paris too!”

 

Rose, who finished tied for second with Horschel, also lauded Schauffele’s exceptional play. “Congrats Xander…. A two-time major champ and deservedly so,” he wrote. Rose added, “I felt I stood tall and gave it a good go today and all week long. I walked off the 18th hole after each round feeling I got something out of the day. Thanks for the support out there. Means a lot!! The dream of the jug is still alive!”

 

In his post-victory press conference, Schauffele credited Mickelson for playing a part in his triumph. The 30-year-old revealed that he watched highlights from Mickelson’s epic duel with Henrik Stenson at the 2016 Open to get into the right mindset.

 

“I feel very honoured. Hearing your name called with ‘Open champion’ afterwards is something I’ve dreamt of for a very long time,” Schauffele said. “I watched the highlights of Phil [Mickelson] and Henrik [Stenson] in 2016 to motivate myself. I guess that paid off pretty nicely!”

 

Schauffele attributed his success on Sunday to a newfound composure that he maintained throughout the final round. “There’s calmness and super stressful moments when you’re trying to win a major championship,” he explained. “I felt them in the past – the ones I didn’t win – and I let them get to me. Today, I felt like I did a pretty good job of weathering the storm when I needed to.”

 

Reflecting on his journey, Schauffele said, “It was hard. It was very difficult. I think winning the first one helped me a lot today on the back nine. I had some feeling of calmness come through. It was very helpful on what has been one of the hardest back nines I’ve ever played in a tournament.”

 

He concluded, “I mean, it’s a dream come true to win two majors in one year. It took me forever just to win one, and to have two now is something else.”

 

Schauffele’s victory not only solidifies his place among golf’s elite but also underscores the camaraderie and respect shared among top players. As Mickelson’s congratulatory message shows, the sport is as much about mutual admiration and inspiration as it is about individual achievements.