Justin Rose produced remarkable poise and a Ben Hogan-like finish to win his first major title by two shots at the US Open on Sunday after overhauling 54-hole leader Phil Mickelson in the final round.
Rose closed with a level-par 70 in difficult scoring conditions at Merion Golf Club, posting a one-over total of 281 to become the first Englishman to win the year’s second major since Tony Jacklin at Hazeltine in 1970.
American Mickelson, serenaded with ‘Happy Birthday’ chants from the fans on every hole after turning 43 on Sunday, bogeyed three of the last six holes for a 74 to tie for second with Australian Jason Day (71).
It was an especially emotional win for Rose, coming on Father’s Day, and he pointed a finger skywards after two-putting for par on the 18th green to acknowledge the memory of his own father Ken, who died from leukaemia in 2002.
“It wasn’t lost on me that today was Father’s Day,” Rose said during the trophy presentation after mixing five birdies with five bogeys in the final round to win a fifth title on the US PGA Tour.
“For it to all just work out for me, on such an emotional day, I just couldn’t help but look up to the heavens and think that my old dad Ken had something to do with it.”
Left-hander Mickelson, a huge fan favourite who has long coveted a first victory in his national open, had to settle for more heartache and a record sixth runner-up spot at the US Open after carding a 74.
“For me, it’s very heart-breaking,” said Mickelson, who had previously finished second at the event in 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2009.
“This week was my best opportunity, I felt, heading in, certainly the final round, the way I was playing and the position I was in.”
Mickelson, a four-time major champion, had to hole out for birdie from a swale below the green at the par-four last to force a playoff but his shot ran through the back of the green from where he two-putted for bogey.
He dropped back into a share of second place with Day at three over, two ahead of Americans Hunter Mahan (75), Jason Dufner (67) and Billy Horschel (74), and twice former champion Ernie Els of South Africa (69), who were tied for fourth.
Tiger Woods, pre-tournament favourite after winning four times in just eight starts on the 2013 PGA Tour, carded a 74 for a 13-over total of 293, tying for 32nd in his worst finish after four rounds at a US Open as a professional.
Helped by consecutive birdies at the 12th and 13th, Rose edged one ahead on a tightly bunched leaderboard and, though he bogeyed 14 and 16, he was handed the lead for good when Mickelson and Mahan both stumbled at the tricky par-four 15th.
Rose safely parred the short 17th before having to face the brutal challenge of the 511-yard, uphill last, the most difficult hole on the course during the week.
He struck a superb tee shot down the middle, his ball finishing close to the famous plaque marking where Hogan hit a one-iron approach to within 40 feet on the way to victory in the 1950 US Open.
Rose hit his four-iron approach right at the flag for his ball to roll through to the back of the green before nestling on the fringe. From there, he used a three-wood to putt and very nearly sank the birdie attempt, his ball curling left-to-right before halting inches short of the cup.
Northern Irish world number two Rory McIlroy, the US Open champion at Congressional in 2011, finished at 14 over after signing off with a 76.
Reuters
Leading scores (after 72 holes, US unless mentioned): 281: Justin Rose (Gbr, 71, 69, 71, 70); 283: Jason Day (Aus, 70, 74, 68, 71), Phil Mickelson (67, 72, 70, 74); 285: Jason Dufner (74, 71, 73, 67), Ernie Els (SA, 71, 72, 73, 69), Billy Horschel (72, 67, 72, 74); Hunter Mahan (72, 69, 69, 75); 286: Luke Donald (Gbr, 68, 72, 71, 75), Steve Stricker (71, 69, 70, 76); 287: Hideki Matsuyama (Jpn, 71, 75, 74, 67), Nicolas Colsaerts (Bel, 69, 72, 74, 72), Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Esp, 71, 72, 72, 72), Rickie Fowler (70, 76, 67, 74); 288: Charl Schwartzel (SA, 70, 71, 69, 78).
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