Rose blooms to snatch US Open title; Mickelson falters again

Justin Rose of England celebrates with the U.S. Open trophy after winning the 113th U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club on June 16, 2013 in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. (Getty Images)

An English flower took bloom in an American garden, flowering out of the thick rough at the Merion Golf Club. It has taken 15 long and arduous years since that memorable outing an amateur at the British Open, but 32-year-old Justin Rose finally made good on a perennial promise to clinch his maiden major title.

The 113^th US Open reached a thrilling finale with at least five men vying for honours before the coveted silver jug ended in the inviting arms of the delighted Englishman. Eternal best man, Phil Mickelson had to remain content with a runner-up finish at the event for the sixth time in his career. The old lady had her own triumph too – not a single suitor managed to stay even with cruel Merion; Rose taking the title at one over par 281.

On a day when the lead changed hands at the drop of a hat, Rose had the first scent of it at the eighth hole. Meanwhile, overnight leader Mickelson had almost imploded with double bogeys at the third and fifth holes threatening to swallow his hopes. But the resilient American roared back into contention at the 10^th hole.

Mickelson was in the thick rough 75 yards from the 10^th pin, but the thrill sent his hopes soaring when he holed an eagle putt with a 64 degree wedge. It was a moment of sheer magic scripted for major folklore; Mickelson though did not have the lines written in his destiny.

The wedge was only about to turn his worst enemy and do some serious damage to the four time major champion’s hopes of a first US Open title. The par-3 13^th was considered the easiest of holes this week, but Mickelson went past the green with his wedge and made bogey.

The flickering flame was almost extinguished at the 15^th when Mickelson laid one just short of the green from 121 yards. He should have still been able to pitch to the pin from the front, but rolled it 25 feet past the wicker basket. He made another bogey there, which in hindsight cost him a chance at the title.

Mickelson needed a birdie at the 18^th to force a play-off, but made another bogey to embrace yet another disappointment at the US Open. “Heartbreak,” was how Mickelson described it. “This is tough to swallow after coming so close. This was my best chance of all of them. I had a golf course I really liked. I felt this was as good an opportunity as you could ask for. It really hurts.”

Amidst the drama around Mickelson, Rose was walking the course with an almost monk like calm. Rose made the turn in one under (2 bogeys & 3 birdies) to stay in the hunt on the final stretch. The Englishman ended the day with five bogeys, but an equal amount of birdies, including back to back efforts at the 6^th & 7^th as well as 12^th & 13^th to set himself up for the perfect finish.

At the final hole, Rose nearly made the first birdie at the 18^th in two days but ended just short of the pin. He tapped in from there for his first major title and looked up toward the cloudy skies to offer a silent tribute to his departed father. In winning the title, Rose became the first man from England to win the US Open since Tony Jacklin in 1970.

“It wasn’t lost on me that today was Father’s Day,” said Rose. “For it to all just work out for me, on such an emotional day, I couldn’t help but look up to the heavens and think that my old dad Ken had something to do with it.”

Justin Rose of England looks to the heavens in acknowledgement of his deceased father after putting on the 18th hole to complete the final round of the 113th U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club on June 16, 2013 in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. (Getty Images)

Hunter Mahan was in the final group with Mickelson, proving to be the most assured pair of hands on a chaotic final day. Mahan made par on all but one of the first 14 holes before his chances at glory got buried in the rough by the 15^th hole. Mahan three-putted for double bogey to wipe his card out of contention.

When Jason Day made his third birdie of the round at the tenth, it appeared briefly that we might have another Aussie taking the major title. With Adam Scott’s exploits at the Masters, still fresh in the memory the possibility sparked a certain degree of excitement. But Day disappointed with bogeys at the 11^th, 14^th and 18^th and end up in a tie for second with Mickelson.

Steve Stricker started just one stroke off the lead, but a triple bogey 8 at the second after twice going out of bounds destroyed any realistic hope of victory for the 46 year old veteran. Charl Schwartzel was under par for a little bit, but 8 bogeys and a double bogey left him staring at a 78 that dropped him outside the top ten.

Tiger Woods had a day to forget, almost as soon as it began. Woods struck out of bounds on the par-5 second before eventually making a triple bogey 8. From there all Woods could strive for was to salvage his pride and honour against the shortest course in a major for nearly a decade. In the end Woods finished with 13 over 274 matching his worst score at the majors.

One of the many highlights on a riveting final day was a hole in one by Shawn Stefani at the par-3 17^th. Stefani hit a four iron at the 229 yard to the left of the green and saw it bounce down the slope and amble nearly 50 feet into the pin. It was a comeback of sorts for the American, who ended the day with a 69. In the third round, Stefani had a disastrous 85, which was mainly the reason for a 19 over score of 299.

Merion club had some illustrious winners in the past – Olin Dutra, Ben Hogan, Lee Trevino and David Graham – Rose has now joined the foursome as the men to have the US Open at this fearsome venue. Rose took home 600 Fedex Cup points and $1.44mn for his efforts at the club this week.

Other members in the top ten – Jason Day and Mickelson tied for second to take $695,916 each. Four men tied for fourth – Ernie Els, Billy Horschel, Hunter Mahan and Jason Dufner, who each collected a cheque worth $291,406. Luke Donald and Steve Stricker tied for eighth winning $210,006 each and Hideki Matsuyama, Nicolas Colsaerts, Gonzalo Fdez-Castano and Rickie Fowler rounded off the top ten. Each of those four men won $168,530.

Select Scores:

+1: Rose (Eng)+3: Mickelson (US), Day (Aus)+5: Dufner (US), Els (SA), Horschel (US), Mahan (US)+6: Donald (Eng), Stricker

Others:

+9: Westwood (Eng)+13 : Woods (US), Donaldson (Wal), Lawrie (Sco)+14: McIlroy (NI)+15: Garcia (Spa), Scott (Aus)