If the cutoff for golfers to qualify for the Rio Olympics were today, instead of a week ago, Phil Mickelson would be in. And he would actually go.
He and Sweden’s Henrik Stenson – who has committed to Rio, and as of now will be the highest-ranked male there – engaged in a classic duel Sunday at the British Open. Stenson collected his first career major with a three-shot victory over Mickelson, who was an incredible 11 shots better than the third-place finisher.
Yet what a storyline it would have been if Olympic qualification was also hanging in the balance for Mickelson.