Rose rises to world No. 3 after US Open win
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E-mail Shanghai Daily, June 18, 2013
Justin Rose is now in third place in golf's world rankings after his US Open win at Merion at the weekend.
The 32-year-old moved up two in the overall standings following his two-shot win over Phil Mickelson and Jason Day on Sunday. Mickelson, a six-time runner-up in the event, climbed four spots to sixth, while Day hit a career-best 16th. Tiger Woods remained world No. 1, with Rory McIlroy at No. 2.
Rose's win made him the first Englishman to win the US Open since Tony Jacklin in 1970 and the country's first major champion since Nick Faldo at the 1996 Masters.
Rose drilled a 4-iron just through the green and used a 3-wood to bunt the ball to an inch of the cup for par. Mickelson, who made two careless bogeys on the back nine, needed a birdie on an 18th hole that didn't yield a single one all weekend at Merion.
"What a piece of silverware to be sitting to my right," Rose said, gazing at the shiny trophy after closing with an even-par 70. "It's just an incredible experience and a childhood dream come true at this point."
It was a recurring nightmare for Mickelson, extending his record collection of silver medals in the major he covets.
"Heartbreak," Mickelson said on his 43rd birthday. "This is tough to swallow after coming so close. This was my best chance of all. I had a golf course I really liked. I felt this was as good as opportunity as you could ask for. It really hurts."
With remarkable poise and three pure swings under pressure, Rose became the first Englishman in 43 years to win America's national championship.
Mickelson extended his US Open record with his sixth runner-up finish, and this one stung. It was the first time he had the outright lead going into the final round. He holed a wedge out of deep rough for an eagle to take back the lead as he headed to the back nine.
But he flew the green with a wedge on the par-3 13th hole and made bogey on the easiest hole at Merion. He tried to hit wedge off the green on the 15th hole to give him a good shot at par, only he hit it so hard he made another bogey. And he never caught up.
"At 43 and coming so close five times, it would have changed the way I look at this tournament altogether and the way I would have looked at my record," Mickelson said, dreaming one last time of winning. "Except that I just keep feeling heartbreak."
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