GREAT BRITAIN’S JUSTIN Rose out-dueled Sweden’s Henrik Stenson in a tension-packed final-round thriller to win the first Olympic golf gold medal in 112 years.
Rose sank an 18-inch birdie putt on the par five 18th hole to complete a four-under par 67 and finish on 16-under.
Stenson closed with a bogey to take the silver, one stroke ahead of US bronze medalist Matt Kuchar.
Ireland’s Seamus Power briefly challenged for a podium position as he opened his final round with five birdies but he ultimately fell away to finish in a tie for 15th.
Pádraig Harrington, meanwhile, didn’t have the round he wanted as the three-time Major winner’s dream of winning an Olympic medal faded rapidly.
In the end, it just wasn’t meant to be as the Dubliner finished in a tie for 21st.
Just a month after fifth-ranked Stenson won his first Major title at the Open in a final-day battle with American Phil Mickelson, he found himself locked in a similar fight with 12th-ranked Rose, the 2013 US Open champion.
On the final hole, Stenson was shy of the green with his approach while Rose was left of the green with bunkers between, the gold fight down to a pitch and putt contest.
Stenson’s ball hit the green and spun well back from the cup. Rose followed and pitched the ball 18 inches from the hole. Stenson ran his 22-foot birdie attempt eight feet past the hole, then missed his comeback putt for par and settled for bogey and a round of 68.
Rose tapped in for the victory, raising his right fist into the air and then using it to tap the Team GB logo on his shirt over his heart.
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