Justin Rose wins US Open at Merion to end wait for first major

By Rob Hodgetts BBC Sport US Open final leaderboard 1 Rose (Eng) 3 Mickelson (US) Day (Aus) 5 Dufner (US) Els (SA) Horschel (US) Mahan (US) 6 Donald (Eng) Stricker Others 9 Westwood (Eng) 11 Laird (Sco) Harrington (Ire) Poulter (Eng) 13 Woods (US) Donaldson (Wal) Lawrie (Sco) 14 McIlroy (NI) 15 Garcia (Spa) Scott (Aus)

Justin Rose clinched his maiden major title to become the first Englishman for 43 years to win the US Open.

The 32 year old won by two shots from now six time runner up Phil Mickelson and Jason Day on a gripping final day.

Rose also the first Englishman to win a major since Nick Faldo in 1996 fired a level par 70 to end one over as overnight leader Mickelson carded 74.

Australian Day took 71 as England's Luke Donald (75) collapsed to six over on the treacherous Merion course.

Justin Rose factfile Born 30 July 1980 Johannesburg. Family moves to England when Rose was five. Tied for 4th as an amateur in 1998 Open at Royal Birkdale Turns professional the following day Eight PGA European Tour wins most recent the 2012 WGC Cadillac Championship Tied fifth in 2003 US Open equal fifth in 2007 Masters tied third in 2012 US PGA Twice a member of the European Ryder Cup team (2008 2012) Wins 2013 US Open at Merion first English winner in 43 years

Rose the world number five looked up to the sky with tears in his eyes after he tapped in his final putt and admitted later to thinking of his father and long time mentor Ken who died from leukaemia in 2002.

Mickelson celebrating his 43rd birthday needed to birdie the last to force an 18 hole play off on Monday but the four time major champion could only make a bogey five.

It wasn't lost on me that today was Father's Day said Rose of his gesture when he was presented with the trophy on the 18th green.

A lot of us come from great men and we have a responsibility to our children to show what a great man can be.

For it to all just work out for me on such an emotional day I couldn't help but look up to the heavens and think that my old dad Ken had something do do with it.

Rose who was born in Johannesburg but brought up in Hampshire burst onto the wider scene as a 17 year old amateur when he finished in a tie for fourth in the 1998 Open at Royal Birkdale.

He went on to miss 21 consecutive cuts when he joined the paid ranks before winning his first professional event in 2002. His biggest victory to date was the WGC Cadillac Championship last March.

Rose's previous best major finish was tied third in the US PGA behind Rory McIlroy last year while he has had six other top 10s in majors.

He becomes the third UK winner of the title in four years after Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy (2011) and Graeme McDowell (2010).

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Rose on 'emotional' US Open win

The last Englishman to lift the US Open was Tony Jacklin who won by seven shots at Hazeltine Minnesota in 1970. Five other Englishmen won the US Open pre war while a host of Scotsmen won early editions of the event.

Rose first hit the front at the eighth hole as the lead changed hands countless times on a tumultuous final day.

Mickelson was seemingly finished after two double bogeys in his first five holes but the mercurial home favourite holed his second shot for an eagle at the 10th to regain top spot and reignite his challenge.

The pair duelled down the notorious final stretch with Hunter Mahan also sharing the lead at one point but Mickelson was unable to avenge his Ryder Cup singles defeat by Rose last year and clinch a first US Open title.

For me it's very heart breaking said Mickelson who had previously finished second at the event in 1999 2002 2004 2006 and 2009. This was my best chance on a golf course I really liked. I felt like this was as good an opportunity as you could ask for and to not do it hurts.

The last 10 US Open winners

2013 Justin Rose (Eng)

2012 Webb Simpson (US)

2011 Rory McIlroy (NI)

2010 Graeme McDowell (NI)

2009 Lucas Glover (US)

2008 Tiger Woods (US)

2007 Angel Cabrera (Arg)

2006 Geoff Ogilvy (Aus)

2005 Michael Campbell (NZ)

2004 Retief Goosen (SA)

Former world number one Donald who played alongside Rose fell away early with three straight bogeys from the third and then a double bogey on the sixth.

Open champion Ernie Els (69) and Americans Jason Dufner (67) Hunter Mahan (75) and Billy Horschel (74) ended tied fourth.

World number one Tiger Woods's challenge was already over before the final round and he ended 13 over after a 74 while second ranked McIlroy took 76 for 14 over.

I did a lot of things right. Unfortunately I did a few things wrong as well said Woods chasing a 15th major title and first since 2008. I struggled with the speed (of the greens) all week.

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