Independent voices from the TWT Communities
Ever since Greg Norman's final-round implosion allowed Nick Faldo win the Masters in 1996, a generation of fine English talent has come up short in golf's four major championships.
The most recent golden era of golf in England had everything but the one prize that brings credibility.
Rose's win at Merion made him the first Englishman since Tony Jacklin in 1970 at Hazeltine to win America's national championship. And he became the first from England to win any major in 17 years, dating to Nick Faldo's six-shot rally to beat Greg Norman in the 1996 Masters for his third green jacket.
Phil Mickelson awoke on Father Day's in a place he's never been _ having the lead to himself after 54 holes at a U.S. Open.
Rory McIlroy started the U.S. Open with a run up the Rocky steps.
Phil Mickelson made eagle from the rough at the 10th hole and Justin Rose was sinking long birdie putts as the two took turns atop the leaderboard on the back nine Sunday in the final round of the U.S. Open.
Fly the Cross of St. George next to those red wicker baskets. The U.S. Open has an English champion for the first time in 43 years.
Graeme McDowell has already moved on to other majors.
Mickelson shot an even-par 70 Saturday, including three birdies on the back nine, for a 1-under 209 total on the hard-to-read greens at Merion Golf Club.
Their 1-under totals of 139 made them the only players under par for the tournament; nearly half the field had yet to complete the second round, which was halted because of darkness.
Phil Mickelson knew it was going to be close, so he made sure his group could finish the second round of the U.S. Open on Friday.
Luke Donald holed out a chip for birdie on the short par-3 13th to reach 4 under and top the leaderboard in the U.S. Open.
Five things learned going into Friday's play in the U.S. Open:
Mickelson's 3-under 67 remained the standard when the first round was completed Friday morning, and the nasty rough and hard-to-read greens at Merion Golf Club took an even bigger bite once the second round was under way.
Mickelson arrived at Merion Golf Club just hours before his 7:11 a.m. tee time. If he was jet-lagged Thursday, it was hard to tell by the time he finished — he had the first-round lead at the U.S. Open.
"It's been too long, really," Donald said. "I think we've had a lot of talent come out of England, and hopefully we've broken our bad period. This will be a great win for Justin, and for England."
Justin Rose's U.S. Open win ends long major drought for England →
"It's been too long, really," Donald said. "I think we've had a lot of talent come out of England, and hopefully we've broken our bad period. This will be a great win for Justin, and for England."
