Justin Rose Wins Gold Medal Over Henrik Stenson Justin Rose held off Henrik Stenson to win the gold medal in golf’s return to the Olympics.Justin Rose (67) birdied two of the last four holes to beat Henrik Stenson (68) and capture the gold medal at the historic men’s Olympic golf tournament in Rio on Sunday.
Advertisement
Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson took it down to the final hole before Rose, the 2013 U.S. Open victor, defeated the reigning Open Championship victor with a birdie on the par-5 18th.
They were tied coming to the final hole, fans lining both sides of the fairway, exactly the moment and atmosphere golf needed to make a good impression on the International Olympic Committee.
An overhit second shot on the seventh caused Rose to drop his first shot of the day and allow Stenson to draw level, but only briefly as the Brit recovered with a birdie on the following hole.
The bronze medal was won by American Matt Kuchar. Stenson then punched right back at the 16th a birdie of his own, pulling even with the Brit at 15-under-par with just two holes to play.
“I’ve never been so happy with a third-place finish in all my life”, Kuchar said after the round.
“The whole week I’ve been so focused, I’ve been so up for it”. On Sunday, Rose capped off his incredible tournament with a gold medal.
Stenson’s chip from 50 yards was nowhere near as good and he was left with a 22-foot putt for birdie.
There was no chance of that when Stenson pitched to four feet for birdie on the short 16th to join Rose on 15 under, but it was Rose who produced the best pitch on the par-five 18th to secure a famous win. “I can’t explain the pride to you that’s just busting out of my chest to make an Olympics and medal is just unbelievable”.
Rose is the first gold medallist in golf since George Lyon of Richmond, Ont., won against a field of mostly Americans.
Of all the Olympic sports in Rio, golf, back in the mix for the first time since 1904, was starting from a position of perceived weakness because the top four players in the world made a decision to give it a miss with the risk of catching the Zika virus as the main reason. “[I’m] so proud to say I’m an Olympian!” Much as he did in his fateful singles match against Mickelson at Medinah at the 2012 Cup, Rose seemed to get tougher as the pressure intensified in Rio, sinking Stenson with a bloodless up-and-down birdie on 18.
They were really the only two golfers in contention for the gold medal and both wanted it desperately.
Advertisement
With the men’s final today, the women’s tournament will begin next week – and as the final group of male players made their turn on the back nine, several female golfers were already on the course, trying to get a feel for its manicured grass and expansive – and often very deep – bunkers.
