- News>
- Golf
Rose ends on high
Olympia Fields, june 17: On a day of high scoring at Olympia Fields, Justin Rose fired a one-under-par 69 to claim a share of fifth on his US Open debut.
Olympia Fields, june 17: On a day of high scoring at Olympia Fields, Justin Rose fired a one-under-par 69 to claim a share of fifth on his US Open debut.
The 22-year-old Englishman, who finished on level par, told reporters afterwards that his fighting display was a "nice Father's Day present for my old man".
Rose, whose father Ken died of leukaemia last year, went from 24th on Saturday into a tie for sixth on Sunday as the rest of the field struggled with the lightning fast greens.
"I'm delighted," said Rose. "This is another good learning experience for me and I'll take level par in this for the next 20 years every time.
"My game is at a Major level now and without saying I feel I am ready to win one I think I am capable of it in the not too distant future.
"People talk about patience all the time, but I've never seen the value of it until now. This week spelt it out black and white.
"David Leadbetter (his coach) gave me a bit of a hard time beforehand because I was struggling with my swing.
"He said it was ridiculous I was not up for a US Open and by being hard on me maybe he was speaking through my dad."
While Rose revelled in the US Open spotllight, Colin Montgomerie endured another trying day on an American golf course.
"Cheer up - you could have a real job," said a spectator as Montgomerie walked through to sign his fourth round card Olympia Fields. The 39-year-old Scot, who had finished well down the field on six over par after a closing 72, did not respond. And nor did he choose to speak to waiting reporters. "Nope - not today," was the message relayed by United States Golf Association officials.
Montgomerie, a seven-time European Order of Merit winner, is still chasing his first Major title and next month's Open will be his 49th attempt - 51st if you include the two Opens he tried to qualify for and failed. There was better news for Padraig Harrington, the current European number one.
The Dubliner shot a superb two-under-par 68, one of only six rounds under par on Sunday, to finish on one over par and claim a share of 10th place. "I could have been better. I missed six or seven more opportunities today," he said. "At least I holed a few, but at the end of the day I have not played well enough." Ryder Cup team-mate Darren Clarke endured a miserable inward nine to spoil what had been his best showing at a US Open.
Clarke, from Northern Ireland, went bogey-bogey-triple bogey through holes 10 to 12. A further bogey at the 17th left him with a final round of 75 and a 72-hole total of six-over-par 286.
English qualifier Brian Davis was another to card a final-round 75. The Londoner ended his first attempt at a Major on American soil in a tie for 61st on 12 over par.
Bureau Report
"Cheer up - you could have a real job," said a spectator as Montgomerie walked through to sign his fourth round card Olympia Fields. The 39-year-old Scot, who had finished well down the field on six over par after a closing 72, did not respond. And nor did he choose to speak to waiting reporters. "Nope - not today," was the message relayed by United States Golf Association officials.
Montgomerie, a seven-time European Order of Merit winner, is still chasing his first Major title and next month's Open will be his 49th attempt - 51st if you include the two Opens he tried to qualify for and failed. There was better news for Padraig Harrington, the current European number one.
The Dubliner shot a superb two-under-par 68, one of only six rounds under par on Sunday, to finish on one over par and claim a share of 10th place. "I could have been better. I missed six or seven more opportunities today," he said. "At least I holed a few, but at the end of the day I have not played well enough." Ryder Cup team-mate Darren Clarke endured a miserable inward nine to spoil what had been his best showing at a US Open.
Clarke, from Northern Ireland, went bogey-bogey-triple bogey through holes 10 to 12. A further bogey at the 17th left him with a final round of 75 and a 72-hole total of six-over-par 286.
English qualifier Brian Davis was another to card a final-round 75. The Londoner ended his first attempt at a Major on American soil in a tie for 61st on 12 over par.
Bureau Report