Justin Rose wins U.S. Open

England's Justin Rose fired a closing round of 70 to win the U.S. Open Championship at Merion Golf Club in Pennsylvania by two shots from Phil Mickelson of the USA and Australia's Jason Day.

Justin Rose wins U.S. Open (Getty Images)

England's Justin Rose fired a closing round of 70 to win the U.S. Open Championship at Merion Golf Club in Pennsylvania by two shots from Phil Mickelson of the USA and Australia's Jason Day.

Rose is the first Englishman to win a Major championship since Nick Faldo's Masters victory in 1996. He's the first English U.S. Open winner since Tony Jacklin in 1970.

The 32-year-old began the final round two shots behind Phil Mickelson but, on a day when everyone was struggling to find pars, he reached the turn with a one-stroke lead.

Mickelson surged again with a fabulous eagle two at the 10th. The American drove into the rough on the short par-4 but, from 76 yards, he holed his second shot to move, briefly, ahead once more.

Rose responded with birdies at the 12th and 13th, then ground out the closing stretch to stay clear of the pack. He reached the final hole with a one-stroke lead and played two fine shots to run just through the green. He then played a delicate shot with a 3-wood from the fringe that left him a tap-in for par.

Mickelson, who was looking to win the U.S. Open for the first time (having finished runner-up on five previous occasions,) had to hole a pitch at the last to force a playoff. Despite his short game brilliance, he couldn't do it and the Englishman was champion.

Rose was, understandably, emotional to take his first Major title, particularly so on Father's Day - 11 years after his dad died.

"What a day," he said. "I don't know what to say, I'm thrilled. I just kept telling myself that making bogeys is what everyone is doing... You saw me look to the heavens with it being Father's Day - I was just trying to remember my dad."

Jason Day of Australia finished in a tie for second with Mickelson. Jason Dufner, Ernie Els, Billy Horschel and Hunter Mahan shared fourth.

England's Luke Donald had a disappointing closing round of 75 to finish tied eighth. But, having gone out in 42, he battled well to come home in 33 and limit the damage.

USGA U.S. Open Merion Golf Club, Ardmore, Pennsylvania Jun 13-16, purse $8,000,000 par 70

1   Justin Rose (Eng)      71   69   71   70   281   $1,440,000 T2   Jason Day (Aus)      70   74   68   71   283   $696,104 T2   Phil Mickelson (USA)   67   72   70   74   283   $696,104 T4   Jason Dufner (USA)   74   71   73   67   285   $291,406 T4   Ernie Els (RSA)      71   72   73   69   285   $291,406 T4   Billy Horschel (USA)   72   67   72   74   285   $291,406 T4   Hunter Mahan (USA)   72   69   69   75   285   $291,406 T8   Luke Donald (Eng)   68   72   71   75   286   $210,006 T8   Steve Stricker (USA)   71   69   70   76   286   $210,006 T10   Nicolas Colsaerts (Bel)   69   72   74   72   287   $168,530 T10   Gonzalo Fdz-Castano (Esp) 71 72   72   72   287   $168,530 T10   Rickie Fowler (USA)   70   76   67   74   287   $168,530 T10   Hideki Matsuyama (Jap) 71   75   74   67   287   $168,530

Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage

Fergus Bisset
Contributing Editor

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly. 

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?