(
)
GULLANE, Scotland — Lefty’s right hand never let go of the silver jug.
Phil Mickelson sat for 28 minutes and answered 23 questions in his winner’s press conference as the 142nd British Open champion yesterday at Muirfield, and his right hand never as much as loosened its grip on the Claret Jug.
“It feels pretty cool to have this in my grasp,’’ he said. “This has been the biggest challenge for me to overcome — to capture this championship, this trophy.’’
While addressing the crowd at the 18th hole ceremony, Mickelson said: “I could not be more proud to be your Open champion. This was a tournament that I never knew I would be equipped to win. It’s the most fulfilling moment of my career because it was something I wasn’t sure I would ever do.’’
Mickelson, playing in his 19th British Open as a pro, began the day five shots behind 54-hole leader Lee Westwood (a deficit that once reached six shots) and routed the field. He shot a 5-under-par 66 (matching the lowest round of the tournament) to finish 3-under par — three shots clear of runner-up Henrik Stenson.
Westwood, Ian Poulter and Adam Scott, who had a lead on the back-nine for the second straight year, finished tied for third at 1-over, while Tiger Woods, who fired a 3-over 74, Zach Johnson and Hideki Matsuyama finished tied for sixth at 2-over.
“He wanted it … and today he got it,’’ Jim “Bones’’ Mackay, Mickelson’s longtime caddie, said through tears. “He played the best round of golf I’ve ever seen him play. He wants to be on that big stage and he really, really wants to hit big shots when it matters, and today he did that.”
Mickelson’s signature big-stage moment — the moment that will forever be frozen in the history of this championship — came on the 17th hole.
He had just acquired sole possession of the lead for the first time all week thanks to one of Adam Scott’s four consecutive bogeys, and Mickelson hit 3-wood to the fairway off the tee and then pounded the 3-wood again with nearly 300 yards to the green of the par-5 17th hole.
“That 3-wood approach on 17 … Jesus that was a good shot,’’ Mackay said.
Mickelson, who two-putted for birdie to get to 2-under par and take a two-shot lead, said he knew he had gotten the lead on 17 and had to “compose’’ himself because “that was when I realized that this is very much my championship in my control, and I was getting a little emotional.’’
“I had to kind of take a second to slow down my walk and try to regain composure, because not only do I still need a two-putt birdie, but I also needed to make a tough par on 18,’’ he said.
Always with a craving for the dramatic, Mickelson birdied the last with a hybrid off the tee and a 6-iron onto the green, 15 feet away from the flag.
When his final putt disappeared into the cup for his fourth birdie in the final six holes, Mickelson thrust both arms into the air with his fists clenched. Then he hugged Mackay and told him, “I did it.’’
Those were the same three words Mickelson said to Mackay when he finally broke through to win his first career major championship in the 2004 Masters.
The win was Mickelson’s fifth career major championship and it represents the third leg of a career grand slam for him. Only the U.S. Open, in which he has finished runner-up a record six times, including last month’s devastating disappointment at Merion, is missing.
A year ago, Scott had a four-shot lead with four holes to play and imploded — bogeying all four and handing the win to Ernie Els, who was more shocked to win than Scott was to lose.
Yesterday, there were no blown leads or blown minds. Just Mickelson outclassing the field and seizing victory — and that Claret Jug he refused to let go of afterward.
“The way I’ve played my entire career, I’ve always tried to go out and get it,’’ Mickelson said. “I don’t want anybody to hand it to me. I want to go out and get it. And today, I did. Honestly, I don’t care either way how I got this trophy. I got it.’’
Mickelson’s wife, Amy, standing greenside with their three children, said, “I’m in shock right now. I don’t think he ever thought he’d be holding a Claret Jug.’’
He, indeed, was holding it yesterday, probably still is today and likely will be tomorrow, too.
mark.cannizzaro@nypost.com