Golf Results - 17 June 2013

The 113th US Open took place in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, with England’s Justin Rose clinching the title for his first-ever major victory.

The tournament was impossible to call for many golf commentators, with some expecting a resurgent Tiger Woods to claim his first major win in five years. However, Woods appeared to be battling a tender wrist and inconsistent form during the tournament and all eyes were on Phil Mickelson who took an early lead in the US Open.

The deciding moment in the tournament came late in the final round, with Rose taking the outright lead after the 15th hole. The final day’s play had commenced with Mickelson as overnight leader, much to the excitement of his fans. The American had been runner-up at the US Open on five occasions, and was primed to win the event for the first time, when Rose mounted his unexpected and successful challenge.

Despite it being his birthday on Sunday, Mickelson had little reason to celebrate as he watched his lead evaporate over the front nine. By the fifteenth hole he was tied for the lead with fellow-American Hunter Mahan when disaster struck – high scores for both players at the fifteenth knocked them out of the lead and opened the door for Rose’s victory.

For his own part, Rose had weathered a rocky weekend en route to his first major victory. Faced with heavy competition from the field, a seemingly unbeatable Mickelson who dominated from round one, and a short but tricky course at Merion Golf Club, the Englishman held his nerve and tapped in for par at the final hole to seal his victory.

For Rose, this major win confirms his place among the most talented of international golfers. A frustrated Phil Mickelson will have to wait another year for his chance to win the US Open after finding himself in second place for the sixth time in his career.

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