Boston Herald - Boston Herald

England's Rose blooms after 17-year wait for major

Associated Press — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:06:15 -0400

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.

With his seven top-3 finishes, Lee Westwood's near misses are a thing of golfing folklore. Luke Donald has been ranked No. 1 but never come that close down the stretch in a major. Ian Poulter saves his best for the Ryder Cup, while Paul Casey's star has fallen since his breakthrough year in 2009.

Finally, after a 17-year wait, England has a major winner in U.S. Open champion Justin Rose.

Tiger Woods has lost his major edge

Karen Guregian — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:05:00 -0400

ARDMORE, Pa. — In no particular order, there were four significant storylines to take away from the U.S. Open.

Justin Rose was the latest to get the major monkey off his back. Phil Mickelson added to his second-place misery. Tiger Woods continued his majors drought after his worst-ever performance at a championship. And, Merion had the last laugh.

Of the four, Tiger’s futility streak has the most impact in the golf world. With 20 majors now having come and gone without a Woods championship, people are starting to wonder when, or if, he’ll win another.

Travelers says Rose plans to play in Connecticut

Associated Press — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:08:23 -0400

CROMWELL, Conn. — U.S. Open champion Justin Rose has no plans to take any time off after winning his first major championship.

Nathan Grube, the tournament director at the Travelers Championship, said Rose's wife, Kate, called shortly after he won his first major title, to confirm they would be in Connecticut for this week's tournament.

Solheim Cup to donate to firefighters

Associated Press — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:25:08 -0400

PARKER, Colo. — Never afraid to let a tear or two drop, U.S. Solheim Cup captain Meg Mallon did, indeed, get choked up when asked about the fundraising effort the tournament is organizing for firefighters battling blazes close to the golf course.

She wasn't nearly as warm and fuzzy while discussing how she'll choose the last two members of her team.

Justin Rose win at Merion gives England the missing piece

Associated Press — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 10:02:26 -0400

ARDMORE, Pa. — The most recent golden era of golf in England had everything but the one prize that brings credibility.

A major championship.

Lee Westwood and Luke Donald reached No. 1 in the world. Ian Poulter turned into a rock star in the Ryder Cup. There was a strong supporting cast that included Paul Casey. Always lurking, and finally delivering, was Justin Rose.

Jason Dufner falters on 15 to end run at US Open

Associated Press — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 06:46:27 -0400

ARDMORE, Pa. — Jason Dufner was on a roll during the final round of the U.S. Open.

By the time Dufner stormed into No. 15, he had whipped Merion into his own putt-putt course.

Not a single bogey. Five birdies. And suddenly, Dufner was thrust into contention to win a shiny trophy and a wicker basket with Phil Mickelson, Jason Day and winner Justin Rose.

Then, mayhem.

Dufner, runner-up in the 2011 PGA Championship, had his pursuit unravel on 15.

He hooked his drive out of bounds and finished with a triple bogey. Goodbye, Open trophy.

Dahlberg: Heartbreak on his birthday for Mickelson in Open

Tim Dahlberg — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 05:41:27 -0400

ARDMORE, Pa. — This wasn't the way it was supposed to end, not on Phil Mickelson's birthday and not at Merion Golf Club, where history will record with little fanfare outside of England that Justin Rose won his first major championship.

When the rain began falling on the back nine Sunday after Mickelson pitched in for an eagle on the 10th hole to take the lead in the U.S. Open, you half expected a rainbow to appear amid the clouds with a trophy at the end of it and bearing Mickelson's name.

Litke: Merion, the little course that could, did

Jim Litke — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 05:38:20 -0400

ARDMORE, Pa. — Merion Golf Club did more than just hold its own.

Called too short, too cramped and too much of a pushover when the U.S. Open teed off, it nearly stole the show by the end.

It crowned a worthy champion in Justin Rose, slid a banana peel beneath Phil Mickelson and sent Tiger Woods packing with his tail tucked between his legs.

Justin Rose invokes Ben Hogan, wins US Open

Associated Press — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 03:07:54 -0400

ARDMORE, Pa. — Justin Rose walked the 18th fairway and thought of Ben Hogan, and a chance to emulate one of the most famous shots in golf.

That very moment Sunday made the U.S. Open's return to Merion Golf Club worth all the bother.

It was about history, about putting up with extra shuttle rides and wicker baskets on top of hole pins to enjoy the charm and legacy of this compact course tucked away in a Philadelphia suburb.

Tiger Wood’s slide hits 16 tourneys

Karen Guregian, Notebook — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0400

ARDMORE, Pa. — The final line in Tiger Woods’ Merion nightmare read as follows: 20 bogeys, one triple bogey, 10 birdies.

The 13-over par Woods registered stands as his worst performance in a major, as he finished yesterday with a final-round 4-over 74. His previous worst came seven years ago at the 2006 U.S. Open at Winged Foot, where he carded a 12-over.

While Tiger has won 14 majors, his last one came in the 2008 U.S. Open. So it’s been a while for the world’s No. 1 player.

Phil Mickelson’s pain  comes from another runner-up finish

Karen Guregian — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0400

ARDMORE, Pa. — The names and settings are forever etched in Phil Mickelson’s memory.

Payne Stewart at Pinehurst in 1999. Tiger Woods at Bethpage in 2002. Retief Goosen at Shinnecock Hills in 2004. Geoff Ogilvy at Winged Foot in 2006. Lucas Glover at Bethpage in 2009.

For a time yesterday, it looked like Mickelson might be able to put the heartbreak of five second-place finishes aside, and end his torture ride at the U.S. Open.

Only, there’s now one more name added to the list: Justin Rose at Merion in 2013.

Rose wins US Open, more heartache for Mickelson

Associated Press — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 22:31:01 -0400

ARDMORE, Pa. — Justin Rose could see all the pieces coming together in this U.S. Open.

The sun was breaking through the clouds Sunday evening at Merion as he stood in the 18th fairway with a one-shot lead. That famous Ben Hogan plaque was in front of him, a road marker bronze that one pure swing and two putts might be all that stood between Rose and his first major championship.

That and Phil Mickelson in the final group behind him.

Rose followed his script to perfection with a par. So did Mickelson, who can't seem to win a U.S. Open no matter how hard he tries.

Woods matches worst score in a major

Associated Press — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 17:30:13 -0400

ARDMORE, Pa. — This isn't the kind of record Tiger Woods had in mind at the U.S. Open.

Woods went out-of-bounds on his second tee shot of the final round at Merion and closed with a 4-over 74. That gave him his worst 72-hole score as a pro in the U.S. Open, and it tied for his high score in any major.

"I did a lot of things right," Woods said. "Unfortunately, I did a few things wrong, as well."

Woods finished at 13-over 293.

Simon Thornton wins playoff in Saint-Omer

Associated Press — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 12:55:15 -0400

SAINT-OMER, France — Simon Thornton of Ireland beat Tjaart Van der Walt on the first hole of a playoff at the Najeti Hotels Open on Sunday to win his first European Tour title.

Both shot 1-under 70 in the final round, with pars on the last six holes to finish at 5-under 279. In the playoff, Van der Walt had a bogey on No. 18 while Thornton made a short par putt to clinch the victory.

Seve Benson of England shot 70 to finish third, one stroke back.

Century later, Ouimet's Open win still resonates

Associated Press — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 06:07:35 -0400

BROOKLINE — At the entrance to the Putterham Meadows golf course stands a statue of 1913 U.S. Open champion Francis Ouimet. Also in bronze, dwarfed by the bag he carries, is the 10-year-old caddie who walked all 90 holes by his side.

Notebook: Sergio Garcia in crosshairs

Karen Guregian, Notebook — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 01:10:00 -0400

ARDMORE, Pa. — Philadelphia-area golf fans haven’t completely let Sergio Garcia off the hook for an ongoing spat with Tiger Woods that the Spaniard stoked with some racially insensitive remarks.

A small group in particular has followed Garcia around Merion Golf Club to heckle him at every turn.

It’s all (9-)over for Tiger Woods

Karen Guregian — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 01:08:00 -0400

ARDMORE, Pa. — The suspense ended early. Tiger Woods gave away any chance he had of winning the 2013 U.S. Open with yesterday’s woeful third round.

The world’s No. 1 player and pre-tournament favorite shot a 76 to balloon up to 9-over and essentially take himself out of reach of tournament leader Phil Mickelson, who sits at 1-under.

But here’s the question: While he started the day just 4 shots back of the leaders, was he ever really in contention?

Answer: Not this Tiger.

Phil Mickelson leads after 3rd round at US Open

Associated Press — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 22:32:51 -0400

ARDMORE, Pa. — For all those runner-up finishes, with so much heartache chasing the major he covets, Phil Mickelson has never had a better chance to win the U.S. Open.

It's the first time he has ever had the outright lead going into the final round. Of the nine players within five shots, only one has the experience of winning a major. And Tiger Woods went from contender to middle-of-the-pack by matching his worst U.S. Open score as a pro.

Litke: Golf and 'Crime-Stoppers' a dangerous mix

Jim Litke — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 06:32:26 -0400

ARDMORE, Pa. — "Hello, Merion Golf Club. May I help you?"

"Yes. Can I speak to a rules official from the U.S. Golf Association, please. I saw a twig move."

"Sir, thousands of twigs get tossed around here every day. It's a golf course."

"Yeah, but this one was moved by Tiger Woods' backswing, in a fairway bunker on No. 16."

"Excuse me, but how would you know that? There's no place for fans to see anything on 16. There's barely places to stand on that hole."

Graeme McDowell ready to put Merion behind him

Associated Press — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 06:19:06 -0400

ARDMORE, Pa. — Graeme McDowell has already moved on to other majors.

He may as well. McDowell's is out of the hunt for a second career U.S. Open championship.

The 2010 champ was 7 over after a 77 on Friday in the second round at Merion Golf Club.

"I'm temporarily dejected," he said. "This game is not about your bad weeks. Of course, it's about the major championships, and you're trying to prepare yourself as well as you can coming into weeks like this.