How Justin Rose won the 2013 US Open
After rounds of 71 sandwiched a Friday 69, Justin Rose found himself just two off the pace set by Phil Mickelson when he teed off on the final day at Merion 10 years ago. A few hours later, he was a major champion. Here’s how it happened…
1. At -1, Phil Mickelson is the only player under par at the start of the fourth round, one clear of Hunter Mahan, Charl Schwartzel and Steve Stricker, and two ahead of Justin Rose, Luke Donald and Billy Horschel. Schwartzel makes an early move, but he will fall away and end up in a tie for 14th at 8-over.
2. After easing himself in with a pair of pars as he looks to put his name on the major trophy he craves so much, Mickelson soon finds his day won’t be as easy as he would have hoped when he double-bogeys the par-3 3rd. It soon becomes apparent that the destination of the US Open will be a three-horse race between the left-hander, Rose and Day.
3. The trio all birdie the par-5 4th, but when Mickelson cards his second double-bogey of the day at the 5th, they are level pegging at +2.
4. It’s Rose’s turn to make the next move. The Englishman birdies the 6th and 7th before parring the 8th and 9th to reach the turn one clear of Day and two ahead of Mickelson.
5. The next big plot twist sees Mickelson hole out for eagle on the par-4 10th, with all three walking off that green at level-par, before bogeys for Rose and Day at 11 see the American back in control.
6. Rose, for the second time in the round, cards consecutive birdies at 12 and 13, and Mickelson drops back one, he suddenly find shimself under par and two clear of his closest rivals.
7. A new challenger enters the fray as Mahan, on the back of 13 pars and a bogey in his first 14 holes, finds himself tied for the lead. But it’s short-lived as he also buckles under the pressure to finish in tied-4th.
8. Rose lets two slip himself between 14 and 17 which allows Mickelson and Day to get within one going down 18.
9. From the middle of the fairway, Rose hits a career 4-iron which just trickles into the second cut off the back of the green. From there, he uses his 5-wood to guide his ball to within tap-in range and, with Mickelson and Day only managing to bogey the 72nd, completes a two-shot victory to become the first Englishman to win the US Open since Tony Jacklin in 1970.
“I’ve been striving my whole life to win a major championship. I’ve holed a putt to win a major hundreds of thousands of times on the putting green at home, and I dream about the moment of having a putt to win. I was pretty happy it was a two‑incher on the last. It’s a childhood dream come true.”
Justin Rose
“I’m heartbroken. This is a tough one to swallow after coming so close. I felt like this was as good an opportunity I could ask for. It hurts.”
Phil Mickelson
What do you remember about Justin Rose US Open win. Can an Englishman emulate him at this year’s US Open? Tweet us and let us know!
Alex Perry
Alex has been the editor of National Club Golfer since 2017. A Devonian who enjoys wittering on about his south west roots, Alex moved north to join NCG after more than a decade in London, the last five of which were with ESPN. Away from golf, Alex follows Torquay United and spends too much time playing his PlayStation or his guitar and not enough time practising his short game.
