Rose’s mother and his wife Kate watched every shot of his nerve-wracking triumph in Rio, which was only secured on the 72nd hole after a thrilling duel with Open champion Henrik Stenson.
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American Matt Kuchar, who took bronze after a final-round eight-under par 63, said the Rose-Stenson showdown spoke volumes about why golf and the Olympics were good for each other ahead of the 2017 International Olympic Committee rethink. Stenson, whose poor chip left him a near-impossible putt to stay level with Rose, closed with a bogey to take the silver on 270, one stroke ahead of USA bronze medalist Matt Kuchar.
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.
Australia’s top-ranked Jason Day, Americans Dustin Johnson and Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland – the world’s four top players – didn’t play, heading a list of about 20 top golfers who skipped Rio, many of them citing the threat of the Zika virus, which causes severe illness and has been linked to certain birth defects.
The eagerness to be part of the whole experience made Rose arrive in Brazil in the week before the Olympics officially started to ensure he was part of the opening ceremony.
“One of the best golf events I’ve ever been involved with the last few days on many levels”, he said.
“He was very proud and said he was rooting for me”, Rose told a media conference.
“I hit it to three inches there in the first round, and I said to my caddie that it would be special to do it in the Olympics”. I’ve been so into it. Many guys are going to win tournaments between now and the next Olympic Games, there’s going to be 16 majors between now and then, but there’ll be little old me, just bragging away about my gold medal.
Stenson and Rose, the Round 3 leader, were tied going to the final hole. “I was always hoping my ranking would get me here”.
“That was a really surreal moment”, Rose said.
“I came here in good form and I felt excited about competing, excited about giving it 100%”. When Rose sank his tense par putt, they were deadlocked again at 14 under.
“And I think that’s what I’ve noticed”.
“It speaks for itself that this event has gone over well”, Kuchar said. Rose came to Rio to watch, and to win. But let’s just call it major champion and Olympic gold medallist, I’d be a very, very happy man.
Brooke M. Henderson of Canada, walks on the green of the 6th hole during a practice round for the women’s golf event at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Monday, Aug. 15, 2016.
Stenson took silver with a fourth-round 68 for 270 and Kuchar’s swashbuckling last day brought home the remaining medal on 271.
Rose toasted his late father Ken, his first golf coach, and emotionally recalled them watching past Olympics together. “It’s awesome. I would have never imagined myself to be in this position”.
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“Honestly this is just a dream come true”.
