“It was a fantastic event with unbelievable support from the crowds and as far as golf in Brazil there was incredible support”, said the American golfer.
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Stenson, who emerged on top after a similarly epic shoot-out with Phil Mickelson in The Open at Royal Troon last night, had to accept second place this time and the silver medal was a deserving reward for his part in a wonderful spectacle which saw Matt Kuchar of the United States claim the bronze medal after a course record-equalling last round of 63.
“I was just on the outside and barely qualified”, he said after finishing three strokes behind Justin Rose, golf’s first Olympic champion in 112 years on Sunday.
The Swede then raced his birdie putt eight feet past the hole and missed the return to allow Rose the luxury of two putts for victory.
Stenson’s three-putt sucked the drama out of what might have been a nerve-racking 5-footer for Rose.
Rose (16 under) poured it home and celebrated in style, with a massive fist pump. It’s a shame that some of the other world class players didn’t feel the same, but Rose had the flawless attitude. “My phone has been on fire the last 24 hours and it seems to resonate with a much wider audience, and that’s what I’ve taken away from this week, it’s not necessarily just golf fans that are interested, it’s just sports fans, and a nation as a whole that seems to get behind you”. I’ve been so up for it. “As I got around the golf course thinking I now have got a real shot at winning a medal there was an overwhelming sense of pride that was just remarkable”.
Kuchar’s caddie, John Wood, teared up when talking about the experience. He said he could see how much it meant to me and congratulated me. “To be part of the American contingent, part of something bigger than yourself … it’s pretty cool”.
“To anybody making the decision going forward, I would just ask them, were you in Rio on Sunday?”
“To get the bronze medal around my neck is such a thrill”, Kuchar said. Here, you finish fourth, you get nothing.
The one common complaint from numerous players this week were the amount of cellphones and cameras snapping pictures at inopportune times. Rose said he always wanted his career to be remembered for multiple majors.
Rose, meanwhile, said he drew inspiration from other Olympic athletes, including a particular photo of Michael Phelps.
And then there was Rose. “It was a powerful image”.
Rose finished with four rounds in the sixties and his closing 67 secured the gold medal with a 16-under-par total of 268. “The person who can make those creative shots will do well”.
The weekend rounds were well attended, especially compared with all the Olympic venues with empty seats.
Rio native Willian Cardoso, 33, said he was inspired by Tiger Woods to take up golf as a teenager, but had put his clubs down in recent years as Woods’ dominance and the sport’s popularity had declined.
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“Oh, that went in the sandbox”, an adolescent boy said Sunday of an errant shot.
