Rose, Stenson on cusp of Olympic gold
RIO DE JANEIRO — Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson know what it’s like to play next to each other on a big stage when it’s all about your flag and the gold prize.
That was two years ago at the Ryder Cup, and they were undefeated as partners.
They will be rivals today, playing under their own flag, each pursuing golf’s first Olympic gold medal since 1904.
Rose made two eagles in the first five holes Saturday and did a little shimmy after making a 10-foot par putt at the end for a 6-under-par 65, giving him a one-shot lead over Stenson going into today’s final round — the medal round — at Olympic Golf Course.
After 112 years away, and three days of what amounted to preliminary heats, golf finally gets the feel of being in the Olympics when medals are awarded.
“It’s like all the other sports,” Rose said. “You work really hard to get into the final, and tomorrow is about a great performance and bringing your best golf when you need it. I have the opportunity, and tomorrow is going to be fun.”
Rose was at 12-under 201, a slim margin over Stenson in any circumstances, even more considering the Swede is a month away from some of the best golf he’s played when he won the British Open at Royal Troon with the lowest 72-hole score in major championship history.
Stenson had another 68, his best moment with a wedge in his hand — but not for a shot he hit.
Walking along the edge of the water on the par-5 No. 10, Stenson spotted a caiman — a small crocodile in these parts — and reached to poke it with the end of his golf club.
“A little tickle with a lob wedge,” Stenson said. “I thought it could handle that, and if it would have been twice the size, then you probably need to go into the longer irons. He wasn’t too big. He was facing the right way for me.”
He wound up making birdie there, and two birdies later on the back nine kept him close to Rose.
Marcus Fraser, the leader after the first two rounds, hit into a bunker on four consecutive holes early on and wound up with only one birdie in his round of 72. He’s alone in third place, but he is four shots behind and his lack of length could be a factor in trying to keep pace with Rose and Stenson.
Fraser never was expecting to be here until four other Australians withdrew.
“Not in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would come to the Olympics and compete, and now all of a sudden I have a chance of winning a medal,” Fraser said. “It feels like I’m going to wake up from this dream at some point.”