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Live Commentary: US Open: Fourth round - as it happened

Sports Mole's live commentary of the final round of the US Open at Merion Golf Club, Pennsylvania that ends in a thriller.
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Justin Rose has become the first Englishman to win the US Open for 43 years with a two-shot victory over Phil Mickelson at Merion Golf Club in Pennsylvania.

He carded a one-under-par round of 69 to finish the tournament on one-over-par, which sees him become the second first-time Major winner of the year following Adam Scott's triumph at Augusta.

You can catch up with how a thrilling final round unfolded below.


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Welcome one and all to Sports Mole for live commentary of the fourth and final round of the 113th US Open at Merion Golf Club in Pennsylvania.

LEADERBOARD: (-1) Mickelson EVEN Mahan, Stricker, Schwartzel; (+1) Donald, Horschel, Rose; (+2) Day; (+3) Fowler; (+4) Kim; (+5) Poulter, Stenson, Colsaerts, Senden, Fernandez-Castano; (+6) Lawrie, Westwood, Hoffman, Lingmerth, Els, Casey, Van Pelt; (+7) Loar, Watson; (+8) Dufner, Kelly, McIlroy, Madsen, Goggin, Snedeker; (+9) Huh, Pan, Kuchar, Parry, Harrington, Bettencourt, Woods; Donaldson (+10) Weir, Laird, Matsuyama, Langley, Kim, Scott, Hearn

Some of the players are underway for their go around Merion. Martin Laird (+11) and Mike Weir (+11) are two-under-par for the day through four and six holes respectively. Stallings (+12) is one-under through five, while Russell Knox (+10) has just birdied the third hole.

TEE TIMES:
4:40pm Bio Kim (+10), Adam Scott (+10)
4:51pm Scott Langley (+10), Hideki Matsuyama (+10)
5:02pm Tiger Woods (+9), Matt Bettencourt (+9)
5:13pm Padraig Harrington (+9), John Parry (+9)
5:24pm Matt Kuchar (+9), John Huh (+9)
5:35pm Cheng-tsung Pan (+9), Jamie Donaldson (+9)
5:46pm Brandt Snedeker (+8), Mathew Goggin (+8)
5:57pm Morten Orum Madsen (+8), Rory McIlroy (+8)
6:08pm Jerry Kelly (+8), Jason Dufner (+8)
6:19pm Edward Loar (+7), Bubba Watson (+7)
6:30pm Ernie Els (+6), Bo Van Pelt (+6)
6:41pm Charley Hoffman (+6), Lee Westwood (+6)
6:52pm Paul Lawrie (+6), Paul Casey (+6)
7:03pm David Lingmerth (+6), John Senden (+5)
7:14pm Nicolas Colsaerts (+5), Ian Poulter (+5)
7:25pm Henrik Stenson (+5), Gonzalo Fdez-Castano (+5)
7:36pm Michael Kim (+4), Rickie Fowler (+3)
7:47pm Jason Day (+2), Billy Horschel (+1)
7:58pm Luke Donald (+1), Justin Rose (+1)
8:09pm Steve Stricker (E), Charl Schwartzel (E)
8:20pm Hunter Mahan (E), Phil Mickelson (-1)

LATEST BETTING:
5/2 Phil Mickelson
5/1 Charl Schwartzel
7/1 Hunter Mahan, Steve Stricker
9/1 Justin Rose
10/1 Luke Donald
16/1 Jason Day, Billy Horschel

BIRDIE! Mike Weir (+10) is putting together a very tidy front nine indeed, picking up his third birdie of the day at seven. He's three-under for the day and bogey free.

Just a few minutes before Tiger Woods (+9) gets his final round underway. He's playing alongside Matt Bettencourt (+9).

BIRDIE! Martin Laird (+11) made two birdies on the opening fives holes, but gave one back at the sixth. However, he's bounced straight back with birdie at seven. Two-under for the day, the Scot. So there is definitely some early scoring out there for the leaders.

In fact, six of the players currently on the course are under par for their final rounds. That's from all the players nine-over-par or worse. Those chasing the lead will be licking their chops at the prospect of grabbing a few early shots to put pressure on the frontrunners.

BOGEY! Shawn Stefani (+20), who you'll remember signed for an 85 yesterday, has just bogeyed the 14th to drop back to level par for the day. He birdied two, five and six but a double at the eighth ruined a lot of that good work. Another birdie at 11 was followed by bogey at 12.

Padraig Harrington (+9) and John Parry (+9) are the next to tee off.

If Mickelson wins he'll have three reasons to celebrate. Of course, it will be first first US Open title, adding to the three green jackets and PGA Championship, but he is also celebrating his birthday today. And finally, it's Father's Day. He arrived in Pennsylvania late because he attended his daughter's graduation, so he's clearly a dedicated dad.

BIRDIE! Tiger Woods (+8) rolls his rock at the first. Great start, but too little too late. The famous red shirt isn't quite so resplendent on this Championship Sunday as it has been on 14 other occasions.

Robert Karlsson (+25) is the first man to finish four rounds at the US Open. He's added three shots to his total today and is on his own in 73rd place. Simon Khan (+24) is currently on the 16th, four-over for the day. The Swede may want someone to at least share the wooden spoon with him, but with numbers like his I doubt it'll make much difference to him.

BIRDIE! Laird (+10) makes it back-to-back birdies at seven and eight and he's now three-under for the day.

Mike Weir (+10) is also three-under through 10 holes. This could bode well for those teeing off later on with shots to be gained on the front nine.

TRIPLE BOGEY! Dear oh dear, disaster for Woods (+11) at the second as he goes out of bounds with his tee shot. He had played the hole in two-under par this week but, having made a birdie at the first hole, he ends up giving away three shots.

HOLE IN ONE! Unbelievable! Shawn Stefani (+18) misses the green with his tee shot at the par-three third hole, but gets a luck kick off the bank and traverses almost the entire green and eventually trickles into the hole. That's a massive slice of good fortune, but fair play to him... it's been a toil!

That's the first hole in one scored in a US Open at Merion Golf Club. With the tournament unlikely to be returning here, it could end up being the only one ever.

So with shots to be made on the front nine, it could end up being a dramatic battle down the tough back nine for the final groups. It will require a lot of nerve, which should be exciting for us. Sky Sports Golf on Twitter: "Who has played the tough closing stretch (14-18) best so far? -1 Mickelson -1 Stricker +2 Schwartzel +2 Horschel +4 Mahan +6 Donald +6 Rose."

Rickie Fowler (+3) started on the 11th tee yesterday and went bogey free through 12 holes. After dropping a shot at the fifth, he made one back at the seventh before finishing with a birdie at the 10th. Sensational play. Combined, he covered the back nine bogey-free in three-under. He's decked out in Sunday orange, the colour of Oklahoma State University, and certainly in with a shout.

Woods (+11) got on the green in two at the par-five fourth hole but three-putted for par. Disappointing, but indicative of a frustrating week for the world number one. It's now five years since he won this tournament, beating Rocco Mediate in a playoff on a supposed broken leg, and it remains the last of his 14 Major titles.

Billy Horschel (+1), teeing off in the fourth-to-last group with Jason Day (+2) at 7:47pm, is clad in a rascal* pair of octopus-print trousers.

*Rascal is a word I use when I can't quite think of a suitable synonym for, not quite horrific, but something close. They're bad trousers, let's just leave it at that.


Although, Hunter Mahan (E) didn't win any fashion prizes for his orange, aqua, luminous yellow and checkered effort yesterday, either.

McIlroy (+8) was in the sand at the first but he's managed to save par.

Martin Laird (+10) is still having the best of it out there. He's still three-under for his final round and through 13 holes now.

There are nine players on the course currently under par.

Roberto Karlsson (+25) has been spared the indignity of the wooden spoon, but not by Simon Khan (+26). A bogey-bogey-double finish from Kyle Stanley (+28) sees him post an eight-over 78 for his final round. Ouch.

Of course, there are those cut at eight-under yesterday morning who have technically finished below Stanley. Still, with the stragglers completing their rounds, that score looks like it'll be propping up the leaderboard by the end of the day.

The first of the outside contenders, John Senden (+5), tees off with David Lingmerth (+6) at 7.03pm. Ernie Els (+6) and Bo Van Pelt (+6) have just gone off the first tee, while Charley Hoffman (+6) and Lee Westwood (+6) get underway at 6.41pm

BIRDIE! McIlroy (+7), after saving par at the first, birdies the par-five second.

BOGEY! Martin Laird (+11) moves back one after carding his second bogey of the day at 13. He had the best round of the day going on three-under, but he now joins Huh (+7), Hearn (+8) and Weir (+11) on two-under for the day.

BIRDIE! Ernie Els (+5) has birdied the first hole and now moves to the par-five second. Is it beyond the realms of possibility to see him challenge today?

There are 12 players out now who are under par for their round, I think that's the most there has been all week. But is the course playing easier or are some just playing without fear?

Els (+5) gives himself a chance of birdie at the par-five second.

Michael Kim (+4), who tees off with Rickie Fowler (+3) at 7.36pm, looks like he'll take the amateur crown. His nearest challenger is Pan Cheng-tsung (+10), who has just bogeyed the fifth and is one-over for his round.

WHAT A SHOT! Lee Westwood (+6) parred the first hole, but reaches the green in two at the par-five second. That's for eagle.

BIRDIE! Els (+4) goes in for birdie at the second to jump from six-over to four-over after the first two holes. It's the par-three third for him next.

Hideki Matsuyama (+8) has shot four birdies on his first 10 holes, but bogeys at the first and the fifth mean he is two-under for his round. That's still the best so far with Ernie Els (+5) David Hearn (+8) and Martin Laird (+11).

BIRDIE! Lee Westwood (+5) misses his eagle putt at the second but taps in for birdie. That would have been a big move.

Nicolas Colsaerts (+5) and Ian Poulter (+5) are about to get started.

DOUBLE BOGEY! Rory McIlroy (+10) shoots a double at the par-four fifth, dropping him into a tie for 33rd.

BOGEY! Els (+5) gives a shot right back at the par-three third.

Mike Weir (+12) and Shawn Stefani (+19) have finished their fourth round of the US Open with a one-under 69. Martin Laird (+11) is still two-under and on the 18th.

The pin at 17 looks ideal for another hole in one today. Stefani got his in, with the aid of a fortuitous kick off the bank, but a few others have gone close. It looks like that cup is collecting anything into the centre of the green.

BIRDIE! Matsuyama (+7) goes birdie-birdie at 10 and 11 to get himself three-under for the day. He's going very well, but fast approaching the trickiest part of the course.

BOGEY! Ian Poulter (+6) gets his final round off to a bad start by dropping a shot at the first hole.

THREE IN A ROW! Incredible from Matsuyama (+6) as he strings together three birdies beween 10 and 12. Martin Laird (+1) has finished his round with a two-under 68, but the man from Japan is now four-under for the day.

We're not used to seeing Tiger Woods (+12) in his red shirt so early on the final round of a Major on Sunday and it's not brought him any more luck. He's just missed a birdie putt at 12 and remains three-over for the day.

Fowler (+3), with a wedge from the fairway peppered with pitch marks, lands it on the green but it's a rather conservative approach.

BIRDIE! Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (+4) drops in for birdie at the first to move him onto four-over-par, five off the lead.

Ernie Els (+5) has parred the fourth hole. Fowler (+3) with a great lag putt at the first, it thinks about dropping but slides by. Nothing left for par.

Jason Day (+2) and Billy Horschel (+1) fly their tee shots down the first fairway. Next up is Luke Donald (+1) and Justin Rose (+1).

Fowler (+3) looks twitchy over his tee shot at the par-five second, his swing was rushed and it drags to the left into some rough.

After missing his chance for eagle at the second, Westwood (+6) bogeyed the third and shot par at the fourth. He's in bad shape after his tee shot at the fifth and looks like dropping more shots.

Day (+2) on the green in two at the first but has a long one for birdie, leaves it short. Horschel (+1) leaves his birdie putt to the left and he stays two off the lead.

Luke Donald (+1) takes almost no time over his ball and safely finds the first fairway. Justin Rose (+1) also dodges the pitch marks on the short grass and has a second shot into the green.

Fowler (+3) has his ball back on the fairway at the second, but he tugs his third to the left and into the green-side rough. Tough up and down from there.

Donald (+1) hits his approach to the first green and it looks good but the spin stops it short. It's a birdie chance, though. Rose (+1) lands his inside his playing partner's. Great shot.

BOGEY! Fowler (+4) ends up dropping a shot at the par-five second. Prime birdie-scoring opportunity and not only does he not take advantage, he lets a shot go. Long par-three third for him next.

Donald (+1) can't find the cup for birdie at the first, taps in for his par. Rose (+1) from a bit closer, also underhits it slightly. A couple of fours to start the day for the Englishmen.

BOGEY! Matsuyama (+7) signs for a five at the par-four 14th and that drops him to three-under for the day.

Ernie Els (+7) has followed double bogey at the fifth with par at the sixth. He's well out of contention after shooting birdies on the opening two holes.

BOGEY! Westwood (+7) with his second bogey of the day to see him slip to one-over for his round.

Charl Schwartzel (E) has left himself with eight feet for his birdie at the first.

BOGEY! Jason Day (+2) starts with two pars but Billy Horschel (+2) misses a short putt for par to join him on two-over-par. And with the octopus trousers, and everything.

Hunter Mahan (E) locates the first fairway. Here comes Phil Mickelson (-1) and he takes a three wood, he loses it to the right and that's in the rough.

BIRDIE! Charl Schwartzel (-1) opens with a birdie at the first. His putt took what seemed an eternity to disappear, nearly clinging to the edge of the hole. But the darkness swallowed it and he's tied for the lead!

SAVE! He couldn't save himself at the second, but after finding himself in the sand at the par-three third Rickie Fowler (+4) gets out of jail with a nerve-jangling eight-footer.

Shawn Stefani has been talking about his ace at the par-three 17th, the only one in a US Open at Merion Golf Club. Click here to read what he had to say.

Mickelson (-1) from the rough with his second shot at the first, lands it safely on the green. Mahan is on in two as well.

BOGEY! Horschel (+3) is going backwards. He goes bogey-bogey with a four at the third. That's him four off the top now.

QUADRUPLE BOGEY Rory McIlroy (+13) shoots an eight at the par-four 11th. Whoops. That drops his to tied for 42nd, one shot below Tiger Woods (+12).

Donald (+1) goes way left with his tee shot at the par-three third and that's a horrible up and down for par. Rose (+1) finds trouble in some rough just in front of a bunker.

Steve Stricker (E) is in trouble on the par-five second, going out of bounds with his tee shot. He's got a job on for par.

Mickelson (-1) sees his birdie putt hit the lip and he settles for par at the first.

Luke Donald hit a fan with his tee shot at the third. She looks a bit shaken but is helped to her feet by the stewards. Donald pitches his ball onto the green from an awkward stand but it's a tough one for par.

BOGEY! Donald (+2) drops to two-over-par for the championship after leaving his putt to save par just wide of the hole. Good effort though.

BOGEY! And it's a bogey for Rose (+2) as well, but there's worse news for Stricker...

TRIPLE BOGEY! The American has fallen four shots off the lead with an eight at the par-five second. He's three-over now.

Mickelson (-1) finds the bunker with his second at the par-five second hole. A good shot from the bunker and he can get to two-under.

TRIPLE BOGEY! Ian Poulter (+9) sees his challenge well and truly over by taking seven at the fifth. He was an outsider, but absolutely no chance for him now.

WHAT A SHOT! Mickelson (-1) gets the perfect connection out of the bunker and nearly sinks it for eagle, but he's got a short one for birdie.

MISS! Mickelson (-1) can't find the cup and stays in a tie for the lead. That's a big chance missed.

Rose (+2) with his second shot from the fairway at the par-five fourth, lands it on the green and he's putting for an eagle. Donald (+2) found trouble with his tee shot and had to lay up, his shot into the green came up short and he needs to get up and down to stop his round travelling in the wrong direction.

BOGEY! Schwartzel (E) found the green with his tee shot at the par-three third, but he's three-putted to drop a shot and fall out of the lead.

Hideki Matsuyama (+7) has posted a three-under 67, the best score of the day so far and equal best of the tournament.

BIRDIE! Three great shots sees Rose (+1) score four at the par-five fourth.

Jason Dufner (+4) is bogey free and heading to the 12th three-under par for his round.

DOUBLE BOGEY! Donald (+4) slips five shots off the lead now with a seven and the par-four fifth. Is that him out of contention now?

Mickelson (-1) fired over the green and into the rough with his tee shot at the par-three third and his flop out has left him with a long one to save par. Mahan (E), also from the rough, gets his within inches of the cup and he will take a three.

DOUBLE BOGEY! Mickelson (+1) slips from under to over with a three-putt at the third. That's a monumental change at the top of the leaderboard.

I beg your pardon, it was a bogey for Donald (+3) at the fourth. He's tackling the par-four fifth now, alongside Rose (+1).

BOGEY! They're all dropping shots and Schwartzel (+1) is the latest to get in on the act. He three-putts the fourth and that lead is coming in fast.

NEW LEADER! In a field where no-one is under par, it's Hunter Mahan (E) leading the way.

Hideki Matsuyama (+7) is the clubhouse leader after a brilliant 67. Jason Dufner (+3) is now five-under for his fourth round and on for the best score of the tournament. Still bogey free, but surely not. Others who have already finished include Sergio Garcia (+15), Adam Scott (+15) and Dustin Johnson (+17).

BIRDIE! Mickelson (E) responds with a birdie at the fourth hole. He's level with Mahan at the top now. Meanwhile, Luke Donald is in trouble at the fifth, he's short of the green in two and looking to save par.

Colsaerts (+7) has had no luck on his fourth round, with bogeys at three and seven dropping him further off the pace. His birdie putt at the eighth looked like it might drop but rolls past the cup.

BOGEY! Rose (+2) loses a shot at the par-four fifth, leaving him two off the lead once again. Donald with a nasty one for par to come.

Mickelson (E) goes well off course en route to the fifth fairway and it looked wet but it caught in thick rough. He's got an awkward stance as well, so this could be a difficult save.

Lefty digs his way out of the rough and gets a lucky break by skipping out of the rough. He's shooting onto the green with his third, looking to get close to save par.

BOGEY! Schwartzel (+2) goes bogey-bogey-bogey, but is still just two back. When all about him are losing their heads, can Mahan (E) keep his cool? Paraphrasing, just slightly.

Mahan underclubs comes up short of the green. Mickelson leaves himself with a beast of a putt. The lead could be just one-over by the time these two are done on the fifth.

BIRDIE! Justin Rose (+1) responds to his bogey at the fifth with birdie at the sixth and he could be sharing the lead soon. He's gone bogey-birdie-bogey-birdie, though, and needs to find some consistency to his game. A four on seven would be nice.

DOUBLE BOGEY, PAR! Mickelson (E) leaves himself with work to do on the fifth green, ends up dropping two shots. That leaves Mahan (E) out in front on his own, one shot ahead of Justin Rose.

Luke Donald (+6) has let go five shots in four holes and surely he's played himself out of contention. He's heading the the par-four seventh having gone bogey-bogey-bogey-double.

BIRDIE! Jason Day (+1) making a move with birdie at the eighth. He's one-under for his round.

TIED FOR THE LEAD! Rose (E) hauls himself level par with a clutch putt at the seventh. He and Mahan are out in front now. The American has parred the opening five holes.

It was an absolute monster of a putt that gets Rose into a share of the lead through seven holes. Real momentum now, the Englishman.

DOUBLE BOGEY! Dropping like flies now. Schwartzel (+4) lets two more go at the sixth. Mickelson (+2) with his second into the sixth and lands it on the green.

BIRDIE! Donald (+5) stops the rot with a birdie at seven to get his round heading back in the right direction, hard to see him challenging at the moment. You just never know, though.

Rickie Fowler (+5) is two-over through nine holes for his final round, while Ian Poulter (+9) is four-over through 10.

Jason Day (+1) with his birdie attempt at the ninth, it's a good one from distance and it looks like he'll be staying one shot of the lead.

Mickelson (+2) hits a brilliant shot at the sixth to give himself a chance of birdie, but it's one that he can't take. He should tap in four a four.

Rose (E) putting for birdie at the eighth, it was a tough one from the apron and he's got a tough one coming back for par. But what he doesn't know is that, for the moment, he is in the lead on his own as Mahan (+1) bogeys the sixth.

SAVE! The lead is swapping round constantly and now it's Rose (E) who takes it on his own with a great save at eight.

BOGEY! It's all gone wrong for the 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel (+5). After picking up a shot on the opening hole, he's let six go in the last five holes and, like Donald, is sinking down the leaderboard.

Mahan (+1) finds the green at the seventh for a chance to get back to level par and a share of the lead.

BOGEY! Billy Horschel (+4) is currently three-over-par through nine holes of his fourth round. He played the opening five in three-over, but a birdie at six followed by two pars looked to have steadied the ship. However, a bogey four at the ninth sees him four shots off the pace.

BOGEY! Donald (+6) back to six-over now after following a birdie at seven with bogey at eight.

Mahan (+1) can't find the cup at the seventh and he stays one behind the leader.

TIED FOR THE LEAD! Jason Day (E) is now two-under for his round and level with Justin Rose at the top of the leaderboard.

Jason Dufner (+5) was bogey free and five-under through 14 holes of his final round, but disaster struck at 15 where he carded a triple-bogey seven. He came back with a birdie on the next hole but it's not good enough to break 67.

LEADERBOARD: (E) Day, Rose; (+1) Mahan; (+2) Mickelson; (+4) Horschel; (+5) Dufner, Els, Fowler, Schwartzel; (+6) Colsaerts, Fernandez-Castano; (+7) Matsuyama, Westwood, Donald

Jason Day (E) finds trouble with his second from the 11th, lands it in the creek at the front of the green. Or at least it looks that way. Rose (E) finds the green at 10, while Mickelson (+2) holes for par at the eighth.

Day with his fourth shot from the drop zone, and that's in the rough at the front of the green. The pin is cut close to the edge and he's got to find a brilliant shot to limit the damage here.

Rose's putt for birdie at the 10th slides just past, but he'll retain at least a share of the lead with Day in all sorts.

Mickelson (+2) into the par-three ninth green, hits it and he's putting for birdie. It's got some to travel though.

BOGEY! That should be a bogey save, actually, because Day (+1) has indeed limited the damage with a fantastic chip from the rough and into the cup. A bonus, but he drops to one off the lead. Could have been worse.

IN THE LEAD: Justin Rose (E).

Rose hits his tee shot onto the fairway at the par-four 11th. Mahan (+1) putting up the hill, leaves it inches from the cup for par. Mickelson, two-over on the ninth and putting for birdie.

Mickelson's effort hits the lip and stays out. It was an aggressive one and carries a bit past the hole.

Mahan (+1) taps in for par, as does Mickelson (+2). Rose is on the green in two at the 11th and will have a go for birdie.

BOGEY! Els (+5) finishes with a bogey at the last to drop to five-over-par. It's enough for the clubhouse lead with Jason Dufner.

BOGEY! Rose (+1) lets a shot slip at the 11th. He cards a five and we have a three-way tie at the top of the leaderboard once again. Five-over is looking pretty decent about now...

SAVE! Day (+1) stays at one-over with a save at the 12th.

EAGLE! Oh my word! Mickelson holes his approach to the green at the par-four 10th and he grabs the lead. Unbelievable, that's come from absolutely nowhere.

Is that the Moment when Phil Mickelson won the 2013 US Open?

Jason Day (+1) at the par-three 13th, he's on the green but it's not too clever. Safe.

SO CLOSE! Day (+1) nearly makes a two but his putt drifts agonisingly past the hole. Rose (+1) makes the green at 12 and will have that for a share of the lead once more.

LEADERBOARD: (E) Mickelson; (+1) Day, Mahan, Rose; (+4) Horschel, Fowler; (+5) Stricker, Dufner, Els

SELECTED OTHERS: Luke Donald (+6), Charl Schwartzel (+7), Nicolas Colsaerts (+7), Lee Westwood (+8), Tiger Woods (+13), Rory McIlroy (+14), Adam Scott (+15)

BIRDIE, BIRDIE! Rose (E) sinks his tiddler to reel Mickelson in on even par. It was a spectacular approach to the green. Donald (+5) sinks a long, testing putt to get to five-over.

Mickelson lands his second shot on the par-four 11th on the green. Rose with a sand wedge into the 13th, work left. Donald (+5) hits his and it threatens to go off the back edge, but just clings on.

Justin Rose now has the best of those out on the course as well as the share of a lead heading down the back nine at the US Open. His nerve will be well and truly tested now.

Mickelson (E) pushes his birdie putt past the hole at 11 but makes it coming back to stay level par. He kept his composure.

IN THE LEAD! Justin Rose (-1) gets himself under par with a birdie three at the 13th!

That's birdie-birdie for Rose as he approaches the toughest part of the course. You just don't know what can happen from 14 to 18, he's played it six-over for the week so to say it's been expensive...

BOGEY! Day (+2) slips one further back with a five at the 14th.

Rain starting to fall now, and Rose is playing his second shot from the fairway at 14 but lands it in the sand.

Day (+2) with his second shot to the par-four 15th, he finishes pin-high but way to the left. Mahan (+1) is playing as solidly as anyone with just one bogey and 10 pars for his 11 holes so far and he's on for birdie at the 12th, the burst of rain has dampened the green a bit and it finishes short.

Mickelson (E) with a big left-to-right swing from around 15 foot and that's curled shy of the hole. He'll stay one off the lead. Rose (-1) pitches out the bunker but that's left a nasty one.

BOGEY! Rose putting for par at 14, no luck this time and should tap in for a bogey. Mickelson with his approach to the par-three 13th, he's lost that in the rough. Mahan finds the green but has left himself well short of the cup.

SO CLOSE! Jason Day is looking to get something going on the closing stretch, he has a massive put over a hill and onto a downslope and it nearly tracks in. His playing partner Billy Horschel provided some theatrics, willing it to go in. Great sportsmanship.

Mickelson (E) nearly goes off the back of the green with his saving shot at the par-three 13th, but it just clings on. It's some distance, though.

The rain has subsided now but the fairways and greens are a bit softer. How that will affect play we don't know. Rose hits his tee shot at the 14th and it stops dead on the fairway.

BOGEY! It was a difficult chance for Mickelson (+1) at the 13th and once again he gets it close, but no cigar. He slips one off the lead, Mahan (+1) in for another par.

LEADERS: (E) Rose; (+1) Mahan, Mickelson; (+2) Day; (+4) Stricker; (+5) Dufner, Els, Fowler, Horschel

Mahan's tee shot at the 14th is good, Mickelson loses it to the left and it's in the rough. Rose with his second shot at the par-four 15th, on the green with an iron and putting for a birdie.

I've got a feeling there's a meltdown coming somewhere here. Where, I'm not so sure.

Mickelson from the rough from 190 yards, skids into more rough and the moniker 'Fairway Phil' is dying a death.

Day (+2) looking to save par at the 16th after going off the back of the green, plays a beautiful shot to within five feet. Rose looking for birdie at 15, great effort but he's got something left.

WHAT A SHOT! Mahan (+1) gives himself a great chance of a four from the sand, his ball ran off the green but spun back viciously and he can card yet another par.

SAVE! Mickelson (+2) hits a wedge 15 feet short of the hole but drains his putt to keep the pressure on. He's hanging in there, but he's being outplayed by his playing partner and Justin Rose.

Rose (E) finds the fairway at the 16th. If he can come home in one-under for his round then you have to feel that's enough.

Mickelson (+1) at the 15th, it's on the fairway. Rose with his second from the fairway, it pitches to a makeable distance but falls down a slope.

SAVE! Jason Day (+2) is two-over and on the par-three 17th, he's by no means out of this. He makes a difficult two-putt to keep himself in contention. Par-four 18th now.

Mahan (+1) in the rough with his second at 15, can't do much with that. Poor effort. Mickelson (+1) hits the green but the spin takes it onto a downslope and onto the front apron.

BOGEY! Rose (+1) bogeys the 16th and we have a three-way tie at the top. Incidentally, a tie means that we come back for an 18-hole playoff tomorrow.

If Day can par the last that's leave him in with a great chance of winning this trophy. He suffered with a few nerves on the Saturday and Sunday at Augusta, but maybe with the focus of attention being elsewhere he can post a good score.

Rose (+1) with a five iron into the par-three 17th. He's taking his time, approaches, back away. Nerves are kicking in a bit, maybe. He addresses the ball once more and that's almost perfect. Not a bad result.

Uh oh, Mickelson on the green at the 15th, takes a 64 wedge but doesn't make the right connection and he's got a ripper. Right at the back edge, breaking left and right.

Day from the rough at the 18th, he gives it a thwack but drags it into the right bunker. If he can get up and down for par he's looking good though.

BOGEY! Mickelson (+2) drops another shot at 15 after a poor wedge on the green resulted in a horrible putt.

CLOSE! Rose (+1) nearly holes from the rough at 17, watching it circle the rim. But he's in front on his own now with Day (+2) scrambling for par at the last.

Surely a par at the 18th for Rose will see him home for a first Major title.

Rose (+1) splits the fairway with his tee shot at the 18th.

BOGEY! Jason Day (+3) posts a one-over 71 for his fourth round after carding a bogey at the last. It looks like he'll be missing out again though, unless Rose gets tight.

WHAT A SHOT! Mickelson (+2) with his second shot to the 16th, he needs to find the green. Time for a miracle, and that's just what it is. The mark of a champion.

Mahan (+3) looking for birdie at 16, no dice. His double bogey at the last has him struggling. Yet to make a birdie today.

Mickelson's putt hangs out the left edge of the cup and he settles for par at 16.

Apologies, it's been a long weekend, but I seem to have got my posts muddled up. A manual refresh will do the trick.

Rose's approach into the green at 18 was on target all the way but it's hot coming in and runs past the hole. Still, a four would be okay here.

Mickelson (+2) on the tee at the par-three 17th, he's bothered by someone in the crowd with a phone. Going with a six iron, lands it on the green but there's not much hope of a birdie there. If he sinks that it'll be one of those memorable moments that decide Major championships.

Rose (+1) from the rough at the back of 18, looking for a birdie, goes with a fairway metal and it looks like dropping... but stays out! That's him in at one-over-par, he's done all he can.

Now its all down to the final group, can Mickelson (+2) make a birdie and take us into and 18-hole playoff tomorrow? Or will it be a first Major for Rose?

Mahan (+3) is taking an age with his second shot at 17, a chip from the rough. Touch around the green isn't a strong point of his game and he's left that one short.

BOGEY, PAR! Mahan (+4) saw his challenge unravel with a double at 15, now a bogey at 17 puts him firmly out of the reckoning. Mickelson (+2) putting up hill, breaking left to right and runs out of legs. That's a par and he needs a birdie at the 18th to force a playoff.

Five times Phil Mickelson has finished a runner up in the US Open. It could soon be six. Justin Rose (+1) is somewhere, biting his nails I'm sure.

WIDE! Mickelson will take his second shot from the rough at the par-four 18th. He sprayed that one a bit.

No English winner of the US Open since Tony Jacklin at Hazaeltine in 1970, but Justin Rose is on the brink. "I'm hoping that it's enough, what a day. Stayed in my tunnel all the way around. Had my moments where I had to dig deep, rallied with some birdies. Wanted to finish in style like Hogan, didn't quite happen."

You can see the adrenaline is coursing through Rose's veins as he speaks. He gets a bit teary thinking as he reflects on the fact it's Father's Day but quick recollects himself, knowing that he hasn't made it yet.

Mickelson blind to the 18th pin with his second shot, which must hit the target. He's well short of the green and Rose has a hand and four fingers on the trophy.

Mahan goes into the front bunker with his approach to the 18th green.

The crowd close in behind Mickelson as he stands over his third shot into the 18th. A par isn't good enough, he needs to hole this from here. The crowd chant for him, I think that's "pray for Phil!" but my ears aren't the best.

Surely this can't go in, he's having a look at the pin. Bones is tending the pin from 45 yards out, he gives it enough welly but it's not on line, it's all over!

JUSTIN ROSE (+1) WINS THE 113TH US OPEN AT MERION GOLF CLUB, PENSYLVANIA!

Phil Mickelson (+3) finishes three-over-par for the tournament. That's the sixth time he's finished second at the US Open. Hunter Mahan (+5) ends with a five to finish five-over-par.

The first two Majors bring two new winners to the club. Adam Scott became the first Australian to done green at Augusta and now Justin Rose ends England's 43-year wait for a US Open champion.

Click here to read the story of his two-shot victory. His first Major title could be considered long overdue but better late than never. Jason Day, another nearly-man, finished tied for second with Lefty.

Rose strides onto the 18th green for his trophy presentation. He's beaming with joy. He hoists it high and gives it a kiss. Speaking to Jim Nantz: "It wasn't lost to me it was Father's Day. Happy Father's Day to all you guys out there. Some of us are inspired by great man, for it all to work out on an emotional day. I can't help but look to the heavens and think my old dad Ken had something to do with it."

Justin Rose: "I took a lot of encouragement from Adam Scott. He's a friend, a great guy. He sent me a text after the Masters and said 'your time is coming soon' - he's a wise man!"

"Philadelphia is my town!" he says to a rapturous response from the many fans. Well done, Justin. You're the 2013 US Open champion.

"Heartbreak," says Phil Mickelson, when asked to sum up his experience in one word. "It's a real tough one to swallow. This was my best chance to win one because I was playing pretty well."

FINAL LEADERBOARD: (+1) Rose; (+3) Mickelson, Day; (+5) Dufner, Els, Horschel, Mahan; (+6) Donald, Stricker; (+7) Matsuyama, Colsaerts, Fernandez-Castano, Fowler; (+8) Schwartzel; (+9) Westwood, Senden; (+10) Huh, Snedeker, Lingmerth, Kim; (+11) Laird, Hearn, Harrington, Goggin, Van Pelt, Poulter, Stenson; (+12) Weir, Parry, Kuchar, Masden; (+13) Chappell, Ogilvy, Simpson, Choi, Woods, Donaldson, Loar, Watson, Lawrie; (+14) Pettersson, Langley, McIlroy, Kelly; (+15) Alker, Knox, Garcia, Kim, Scott, Pan, Hoffman, Casey; (+16) Stallings, Bettencourt; (+17) Johnson; (+18) N Thompson, Teater, Coetzee; (+19) Stefani, Kaymer, Siem; (+20) Phelan, Weibring; (+21) Weaver; (+22) Hedblom, Howell; (+23) Sutherland, Peterson, Herman, Presnell; (+25) Karlsson; (+26) Khan; (+28) Stanley

Thanks for joining me over the last four days, it's been a blast. The next Major is the Open Championship at Muirfield on July 18, see you then?

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Michael Penkman
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Phil Mickelson reacts after his birdie putt on the ninth hole during the first round of the U.S. Open golf tournament on June 13, 2013
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