A steady hand gave Justin Rose the shiny U.S. Open Trophy. A wild ride gave Phil Mickelson yet another silver medal.
Justin Rose is the first Englishman to win the U.S. Open in 43 years. Rose shot a closing 70 Sunday at Merion Golf Club for a 1-over 281 total and his first major championship. He finished two shots ahead of Phil Mickelson and Jason Day.
No other course with four U.S. Opens had to wait such a long time — 32 years — for another chance to test the world's best players. Even with Tiger Woods back to No. 1 and winning at a ridiculous rate, so much of the talk at this major championship has been about Merion.
The affection was genuine. Even better was beating Jack Nicklaus in a playoff. So when Lee Trevino got his hands on that U.S. Open trophy in 1971, the guy who never lacked for one-liners gushed, "I love Merion, and I don't even know her last name."
Give it up, Ernie.
Luke Donald enters the U.S. Open more focused on a different No. 1 than reclaiming his old ranking.
Andy Roddick's tennis career will close at the U.S. Open, the site of his biggest triumph.
Andy Roddick's tennis career will close at the U.S. Open, the site of his biggest triumph.
Even before she began berating the chair umpire, things were not going well for Serena Williams in the U.S. Open final.
