U.S. Open 2013: Rose Clinches Title to Become First U.K. Winner in 43 Years

U.S. Open 2013: Rose Clinches Title to Become First U.K. Winner in 43 Years
The final round of the U.S. Open saw Justin Rose tear into the competition in the back nine, finishing one over par and seizing his first major championship.

It was an ending not many were expecting.  As the weekend wore on at Merion it looked as though Phil Mickelson might finally win his first U.S. Open.  But it was not meant to be as Rose emerged victorious leaving Mickelson and Jason Day in joint second place, two strokes behind.

As his winning putt sank, Rose looked up to the sky in acknowledgement of the man that introduced him to the game, his dad Ken, who died of leukemia in 2002.

“It wasn't lost on me that today was Father's Day,” commented Rose after his win.  “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.”

For Mickelson, who turned 43 on Sunday, it was another disappointment at the tournament that seems to stay just out of his reach.

“For me, it's very heart-breaking,” said Mickelson after finishing second for the sixth time in his career.  “This was my best chance on a golf course I really liked.  I felt like this was as good an opportunity as you could ask for and to not do it hurts.”

World number one Tiger Woods struggled throughout the weekend and wasn’t even a contender in the final round.  Plagued by an apparent injury on the opening hole Thursday, Woods was never able to bounce back.  Finishing the tournament at 13 over.

“I did a lot of things right.  Unfortunately I did a few things wrong, as well,” said Woods.  “I struggled with the speed (of the greens) all week.”

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