Rose in particular enjoyed a brilliant week, highlighted by a hole-in-one Thursday, stringing together rounds of 67, 69 and 65 to head into the final day with a one-shot advantage over Stenson, minus-12 to minus-11.
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Rose had already made history by sinking the first ever hole in one at the Olympics, as golf made its return to the Games after a 112-year absence.
But he needed just the one.
As the final putt fell into the cup, he thrust his fist into the air and popped the British crest on his shirt before turning to embrace Stenson.
Stenson and Rose said it was a demanding and pressure-packed afternoon as temperatures rose into the 80s Fahrenheit. I think coming here doing it this week on this stage was pleasing.
Bolt, will become the undisputed sprint-king if he is able to repeat the triple gold he won at the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Olympics in the 100m, 200m and the 4x100m relay.
“I came here in good form and I felt excited about competing, excited about giving it 100%”.
“To be here is incredible and now to win gold is unbelievable”. But he was forced to summon the trainer to help with back issues on the 14th hole, which left him face down on the tee for a brief spell.
“I have been dreaming of this moment for three years“, said a delighted Rose. “But it’s not something you plan to have worked on out on the course”. “It’s the opportunity of a lifetime and I’m thrilled I came here”. The Swede claimed the silver medal, with America’s Matt Kuchar taking home bronze.
Justin Rose of Great Britain celebrates with the gold medal. “I had been holding it in all day”, Rose said. The 60 players who came, dressed in their country colors and team bags – and three medals at the end of the week – showed what they were missing.
“I kept asking my caddie: “I wonder what it’s like to stand on that podium, I wonder what it’s like to be holding a medal”.
Bubba Watson (70) tied for eighth at 7 under. He said he was very, very proud and he said he was pulling for me.
“To get the bronze medal around my neck is such a thrill”, Kuchar said.
Feeling the Olympic vibe Rose held a one-stroke lead from Stenson going into the final round. “I didn’t hit a good shot and that opened the door for Justin”. “I’d be a very, very happy man”. “It was the experience of a lifetime”. Rose said he always wanted his career to be remembered for multiple majors. “You can’t compare it to anything else”.
“Obviously he made the point that he wants golf to succeed as an Olympic sport”. With the door open, Rose stepped up and hit his shot from 30 metres to the shadow of the flag, a certain birdie. The metrics on that won’t be apparent immediately, but Rose knows what he thinks, and so does Dawson. He said he could see how much it meant to me and congratulated me. To be honest, things started to really trend up this week.
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“That felt better than anything I’ve ever won”, said Rose.
