Justin Rose of Great Britain celebrates winning the gold medal after the final round of the men’s golf event at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Aug. 14.
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You may recall McIlroy’s comments came during the same press session where he seemed to be in a bad mood and even said that he didn’t feel like he was letting golf down by skipping the Olympics.
Stenson and Rose, the Round 3 leader, were tied going to the final hole.
Rose had fully embraced the Olympic experience by watching numerous other sports and walking in the opening ceremony, after which he shared a bus journey back to the athletes’ village with Wimbledon champion Andy Murray.
It wasn’t standing on the podium or hearing “God Save the Queen” being played or even the gold medal draped across his shoulders that was most special to Justin Rose.
International Golf Federation (IGF) officials said before the tournament that the sport’s inclusion had sparked a huge interest in nations that have little tradition or history in the sport. Kuchar went 6 under during a six-hole stretch that he capped off with a 15-foot eagle on the 10th hole to get him in the mix, and his wedge to 2 feet for birdie on the 17th put him one shot behind. “But I’m not sure golf will be one of the events I watch”, definitely watched some Olympic golf.
“That was a really surreal moment”, Rose said.
Both players held off a fierce challenge by Kuchar, the American who started the day five-under in a tie for seventh but shot a 63 to tie the course record and secure the bronze. “I’ve never seen that out of him before and that was very, very special”.
Asked whether he believed he could win at the start of the week, Rose said: “I knew it was a possibility but there were so many great players”.
“I can’t begin to explain to you the amount of pride I have finishing third”, Kuchar said.
Rose and Stenson are good friends from their time on the Ryder Cup team and could not be separated for much of the final round.
After a hard build-up to the event featuring a spate of withdrawals, organisers could not have hoped for a better outcome than a Major victor of Rose’s stature claiming the gold medal.
As for McIlroy’s message, the man who last month didn’t rank golf as a “real” Olympic sport was happy for Rose.
” The whole week I’ve been so focused, I’ve been so up for it”.
Belgium’s Thomas Pieters finished fourth after a final day 65 and was left cursing Saturday’s disastrous 77 which ruled him out of the medals. It’s definitely something I’ve been looking forward to a long, long time.
Players couldn’t help but notice colorfully adorned fans carrying flags enhancing the tournament atmosphere. “It’s wonderful that you can play for your country like this”. I think all the guys who didn’t come are going to regret it.
The sport has not been played at the Olympics since 1903.
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“It speaks for itself that this event has gone over well”, Kuchar said.
