U.S. Open: Tiger, DJ and a decade of champions
2013 Champion – Justin Rose
Justin Rose is an enduring figure in the golf world. I think of his career to date as bookended by his low amateur performance at the 1988 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale – he was 17 – and his gold medal performance at the 2016 Rio Olympics – he was 35. Rosie has game!
In 2013, Rose defeated Phil Mickelson and Jason Day to become the first Englishman in 43 years to win the U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pennsylvania.
If you think 36 is too old to contend for a major championship, you obviously weren’t paying any attention to the Sunday round at the 2017 Masters, when Justin Rose and 37-year-old Sergio Garcia kept us all on the edge of our seats with some of the best golf I’ve ever witnessed.
Rose will be a presence at Erin Hills. He’s 8th in the OWGR and 10th in the FedExCup rankings. He’s recorded two runner-up finishes this season on the PGA TOUR and hasn’t missed any cuts. Like Martin Kaymer, Justin Rose will bring a consistent, well-honed game to Erin Hills. He has few flaws and his ability to deliver under pressure is unshakeable.