Britain’s Justin Rose outdueled Sweden’s Henrik Stenson in a tension-packed final-round thriller yesterday to win the first Olympic golf gold medal in 112 years at the Rio Games men’s tournament.
Rose pitched the ball 18 inches from the cup on the par-5 18th hole and sank the birdie putt to win gold, completing a four-under par 67 final round to finish 72 holes on 16-under 268.
“Oh my God. That felt better than anything I’ve ever won. It was the best tournament I’ve ever done,” Rose said. “Coming up with that last pitch when I needed it was magical.”
Stenson closed with a bogey to take the silver on 270, one stroke ahead of US bronze medallist Matt Kuchar.
“It was always going to be tough and it came down to the last shots. Justin was the better player today,” Stenson said.
“He started one ahead and it came down to the last shots. I didn’t play my best.”
An event dimmed by the decisions of more than 20 players to stay away, including world number one Jason Day of Australia and the entire world top four, provided plenty of excitement and spectacular shotmaking as the gold hung on a knife’s edge all day. “It felt like a cross between a golf tournament and a carnival,” Rose said. “It was unique, incredible.”
Just a month after fifth-ranked Stenson won his first major title at last month’s British Open in a final-day battle with American Phil Mickelson, he found himself locked in a similar fight with 12th-ranked Rose, the 2013 US Open champion.
At the par-5 18th, 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.
Stenson’s ball hit the green and spun well back from the cup.
Rose followed and pitched the ball 18 inches from the hole. Stenson ran his 22-foot birdie attempt eight feet past the hole, then missed his comeback putt for par and settled for bogey and a round of 68. Seconds later, Rose tapped in for the victory, raising his right fist into the air and then using it to tap the Team GB logo on his shirt over his heart.
Kuchar emerged from a host of contenders to take the last podium spot by firing a 63, matching the Olympic record set in round one by Australian Marcus Fraser.
Chawrasia tied 50th, Lahiri 57th
India’s SSP Chawrasia endured a horrendous final round of seven-over 78 to drop 28 places to finish tied 50th, while compatriot Anirban Lahiri closed with a 72 to be 57th.
Chawrasia suffered two double bogeys (third and 13th) and four bogeys (seventh, 11th, 12th and 14th) against two birdies on the second and eighth to get a 78 that took his total to five-over 289 (71, 71, 69, 78).
Seven spots behind him was Lahiri, who produced his best round of the week as he got four birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey for a 72. The 29-year-old got a four-day total of 10-over 294.