Justin Rose who became the first men’s Olympic golf champion in over a century says Rory McIlroy was among those to send him congratulatory messages after his victory in Rio on Sunday.
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Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Justin Rose needed only one videophone call home to see the broad impact of his winning the first Olympic golf crown since 1904 reflected in his children’s eyes.
Matt Kuchar of the United States finished with a brilliant 63 to reach 13-under and claim bronze.
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 2013 US Open champion also saw his four-year-old daughter Lottie’s eyes widen watching Olympic gymnasts flip and tumble, another sign that his decision to play had been the right one.
Ku char, who only got into the U.S. team when Jordan Spieth withdrew before the Open and did not know there was no team competition until recently, said: “It’s the happiest I’ve ever been to finish third”.
“He was so excited”, Rose said Monday.
“I felt very inspired this week, very focused, very motivated”. I’ve been so up for it.
“It’s once every four years but it could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity so it had a lot more significance than any other Sunday I’ve been to”.
“Hopefully we’ve shown Brazil what golf is about”.
Deadlocked at 18, Stenson was shy of the green with his approach while Rose was left of the green with bunkers between, the gold fight down to a pitch and putt contest. “But I’m not sure golf will be one of the events I watch”. “It was the wonderful spirit here in Rio, which I think speaks to the bigger picture of what a success it’s been”.
Golf’s presence at the Olympics is only guaranteed until the 2020 Games in Tokyo, although Rose hopes the sport can follow the example of tennis, which returned to the stage as a full medal sport in 1988, with gold now highly prized by the game’s biggest stars.
“I barely qualified”, Kuchar said.
“I can’t explain the pride to you that’s just busting out of my chest”, Kuchar said. “I felt strong, my recovery was great and each day I came out playing my best golf”.
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In the end, the packed grandstand which turned the 18th arena into a noisy sporting amphitheatre, watched spellbound as Rose got up-and-down from the side of the green for the birdie which sealed a worthy gold medal performance. It’s time to get yours, ‘ ” Rose said. Peter Dawson, president of the International Golf Federation, said the International Olympic Committee members who came out to see the golf were all complimentary. I think all the guys who didn’t come are going to regret it. “I’d be a very, very happy man”.
