Rose Beats Stenson to Olympic Gold in Golf

Great Britain’s Justin Rose became golf’s first Olympic champion since 1904 by beating Henrik Stenson to gold in a thrilling final round at Rio 2016.

Rose, 36, was level with Stenson on 15 under par after 17 holes but the Swede bogeyed the last while Rose sank a birdie putt to win by two shots.

The 2013 US Open champion closed with a four-under-par 67 to win on 16 under.
Open champion Stenson (68) took silver with American Matt Kuchar carding a 63 to take bronze on 13 under.

It was the perfect outcome following the realisation of a seven-year dream for Rose, who secured Britain’s 12th gold medal in Rio.

The Englishman had relished the prospect of becoming an Olympian since the moment golf’s return to the Games was confirmed in 2009.

Such was his eagerness to be part of the whole experience, Rose arrived in Brazil in the week before the Olympics officially started to ensure he was part of the opening ceremony.

Rose made history by hitting Olympic golf’s first hole-in-one in the opening round and started Sunday with a one-shot lead, before shooting four birdies and just one bogey on his outward nine.

However, Stenson was in determined mood. Birdies in four of his first 10 holes kept him within touch of the leader, and when Rose dropped a shot on the 13th they were level.

It looked like a play-off would be needed to separate them but Rose held his nerve on the par-five last, chipping his approach to two feet from the hole, while Stenson’s spun away to around 20 feet.

The Swede then raced his birdie putt eight feet past the hole and missed the return to allow Rose the luxury of two putts for victory. He needed just the one.