Justin Rose is a U.S. Open winner and now an Olympic gold medalist, winning the men’s Olympic golf tournament on Sunday in Rio de Janeiro in a thriller of a duel against Henrik Stenson.
The Briton prevailed with a two-shot win on the Olympic Golf Course, making a 2-foot birdie putt on the final hole to lock up the gold medal. Rose and Stenson were tied heading into the par-5 finishing hole on the Gil Hanse-designed golf course, with both laying up just shy of the green. Stenson went first, leaving approximately 20 feet for birdie, before Rose chipped close to force Stenson’s hand. The reigning British Open champion three-putted for bogey, then Rose tapped in for the victory with a final-round 67.
Rose finished at 16-under 268, with Stenson at 14 under par, one ahead of American Matt Kuchar, who secured the bronze medal with a final round of 8-under 63 to finish at 13 under par.
Kuchar finished four clear of Belgium’s Thomas Pieters.
“I’ve never been so happy with a third-place finish in my life!” Kuchar exclaimed after his round.
Rose becomes the first man to win an Olympic gold medal in golf since Canadian George Lyon accomplished the feat in the 1904 Games in St. Louis.
Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.
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