The outcome was only decided on the 72nd hole when Rose pitched to three feet to set up a decisive birdie and Stenson failed to convert his long-range attempt, the 40-year-old Swede also missing the return putt for par.
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The 2013 US Open champion closed with a four-under-par 67 to win on 16 under.
“Olympic champion? That has a cool ring to it”, Rose said.
“The whole week I’ve been so focused, I’ve been so up for it. It was the best tournament I’ve ever done”, said Rose.
“Honestly this is just a dream come true, I have been thinking about Rio for a long, long time”. I made it a big deal in my year and I had the benefit of walking in the opening ceremony and watching other sports, which was all part of the plan.
“I’ve just got to tag on another major now”. To come out of it with a medal is incredible, and to come out of it with gold, unbelievable.
His win means he is just the third man to win individual golf gold after Charles Sands of the USA in 1900 and Canada’s George Lyon in 1904.
Rose was close to the lead for much of the competition, and went in to the final round with a on-shot lead.
Rose seized the advantage on 15 to birdie and edge one clear of his foe, but the drama continued to move back and forth. That appeared to knock the composure out of Stenson, who missed his par putt to leave Rose with the simple task of stroking home from a couple of feet to win the gold.
“I was in a great fight with Henrik, a good friend of mine, and it took world class golf to win today so I am very proud of the achievement and I’ve just got to let it all soak in now”.
“I had a bit of an issue, my thoracic spine kind of locked up completely after 13 holes and I had to have some treatment”, said the Swede. I can’t say it was purely down to that but it was not helping, put it that way. “I didn’t hit a good shot and that opened the door for Justin”.
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While the the world’s top four players, Jason Day, Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy, all stayed away, citing fears over the Zika virus, Rose was not perturbed. “The pride is just busting out of my chest”.
