Not One for Wilting

It’s seems like an eternity ago that the South African-born Englishman became a household name with a pitch-in birdie at Royal Birkdale’s difficult 18th hole to record an unlikely fourth-place finish at the 1998 Open Championship behind Mark O’Meara.

Rose was then a 17-year old amateur and set out with stars in his eyes on what was touted as a 'sure thing’ professional career, only to face the despair and embarrassment of missing his first 21 cuts as a professional.

He could have put the cue in the rack right there but showed his resilience and determination to soldier on, returning to the European Tour via the qualifying school. The ensuing years are well documented; progressing to the PGA Tour in 2006 before stumbling and rising again to establish what is now acknowledged as a wonderfully successful and accomplished career, with a glittering array of individual and Ryder Cup moments on the highlight reel.

All that was missing from the world number five’s resume heading into the US Open was a major.

Enter Merion and a USGA setup that captivated Rose during his preparations the week before the championship. “What I first loved about Merion is how one of the local caddies described it, the first six holes are drama, the second six holes are comedy, and the last six holes are tragedy. Like a good play, like a good theatrical play.

"And that in a sense has been the way I framed up the golf course in my mind. Trying to get off to a solid start, trying to gain a little bit of ground in the middle and then hang on."

Of significance in his mental preparation was a refusal to accept that Merion would be the pushover predicted by many, even after the heavens opened earlier in the week to soften the defences of one of the shortest courses in Open history.

"I certainly didn't buy into the 62s and 14-under, but I figured that maybe four-, five-, six-under par would be the winning total.” he said of the pre-tournament predictions.

After rounds of 71, 69 and 71, Rose started the final round at one-over, two shots behind sentimental favourite Phil Mickelson, in search of a first national championship at his 23rd attempt. With the final round also a celebration of his 43rd birthday and on Father’s Day Sunday, the opportunity at hand and the theatre of the moment was palpable as an adoring gallery greeted Mickelson with rapturous applause on the first tee.