Justin Rose has wept in delight as he claimed a dramatic first Olympic golf gold medal in 112 years at the Rio Games.
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Rose finished with four rounds in the sixties and his closing 67 secured the gold medal with a 16-under-par total of 268.
A bogey by Rose at 13 dropped him one stroke behind Stenson, the 36-year-old Englishman finding a bunker with his approach and missing a six-foot par putt.
Rose toasted his late father Ken, his first golf coach, and emotionally recalled them watching past Olympics together.
“I’m not sure what needs to be said other than what transpired this week”, Kuchar said, asked what he would tell people about if the sport should remain in the Olympic program. Four shots out of third place to start the day, Kuchar raced up the leaderboard with four front-nine birdies and an eagle at the par-5 10th. This is something I’ve focused on, something I’ve been hungry for, something I wanted to peak for. I’ve been so into it. And both men held a narrow lead at different times as they exchanged birdies.
“We were sitting in the players’ box and Team USA wins and the boys come running and jumping up into the box”, Kuchar said.
“We’re so blessed”, Watson said.
His caddie, Mark Fulcher, who along with all loopers here this week were classed as equipment, and therefore left without a medal, let slip how a picture of Michael Phelps had been an inspiration, the greatest Olympian of all time captured in a photo alongside a rival in the pool who could not take his eyes of him. I can’t be too unhappy about this week. “It was the best tournament I ve ever done”, Rose said. “I was always hoping my ranking would get me here”. At 14, Stenson made a poor pitch and made bogey while Rose sank a 14-foot par putt to pull level.
“But he is unbelievable. I didn’t hit a good shot and that opened the door for Justin”. He’s a great player and he’s a great friend, and I just gave him a hug on the 18th green. “I did as well as I could”, Stenson said.
Horticulturalists of the world you can have that one on Justin.
Matt Kuchar had earlier blitzed an eight-under 63, to equal the course record set by Marcus Fraser on day one. Had he not three putted the 16th and failed to birdie the 18th, he might just have grabbed another colour of medal.
“This is just a dream come true”. I keep expressing the feeling of sheer pride.
“To be an Olympic medalist is something special”. But Sunday afternoon, he stood on the medal stand.
“It feels absolutely incredible”, said the former US Open champion, whose win takes him back inside the world’s top 10.
Many have criticised golf’s reinstatement to the Olympics, arguing that it does not deserve to be there given that it already has four events – the majors – that are already widely acknowledged as the pinnacle of the sport. “Just going to tag on another major now”.
Stenson admitted that his back affected his play a bit; it’s been ailing recently, and during today’s round he needed a visit from a physiotherapist.
“But I was still there at the end and it came down to whoever made birdie down the last”. I’ve been thinking about Rio for a long, long time. He joked about how his children, Archie, 7, and Lily, 5, were going to wake up in Melbourne “in a state of shock to see that their old man at this stage is leading the Olympics”.
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