To defeat the Iceman, you need to become an Iceman yourself. That's how Justin Rose saw his showdown with Henrik Stenson in Rio on Sunday. The British eventually won the Olympic gold medal.
His final round plan is simple. "I have to beat Stenson." Ross said.
He did it. On Sunday, on the 18th hole of the Olympic golf course, the gold medal finally fell on the two-man cut-and-shoot competition. Stenson cut from 51 yards away, leaving himself a 23-foot birdie push; Rose (who had a better angle) cut the ball out from 39 yards away and the ball stopped 6 feet off the hole cup. Almost the distance of a dead bird.
The first Olympic golf event in 112 years, it was a decisive stroke.
Rose's shot forced Stenson to take some risks on the birdie push. The ball rolled far over the hole, eventually causing Stenson to swallow the bogey. Rose successfully advanced the short push bird and won the gold medal.
Stenson took a 1-stroke lead over Matt Kuchar and won the silver medal. Kuchar won the bronze medal.
Chinese players Wu Ashun and Li Haotong are tied for 30th and 50th respectively, while Chinese Taipei player Pan Zhengchun is also tied for 30th. The best performer among Asian players was Thai player Afibanrat, who ended his first Olympic journey with a tie for fifth place.
"It's too hard to describe," said Rose, who shot 67 in the final round and Stenson shot 68, "and to be honest with you guys, this week I've been very focused, I've been very engaged, and I'm ready to win gold." ”
"It was the most magical week I've ever experienced." The seven-time PGA Tour winner said. Ross and Stenson are both Grand Slam champions, the Briton won the U.S. Open in 2013, and the Swede defeated Phil Mickelson in Last Month's Royal Troon 'Showdown in the Sun II'.
The Women's Olympic Golf Tournament will begin on Wednesday, with the Chinese delegation featuring two female players, Feng Shanshan and Lin Xiyu.