Justin Rose Wins US Open at Merion

Justin Rose ended a 43-year wait for a English winner of the US Open after claiming his maiden major championship at the unforgiving Merion

Rose finished +1 after a final round level-par 70 in Philadelphia, two shots ahead of American Phil Mickelson, who finished second in his home major title for a sixth time, and Australian Jason Day and becomes the first Englishman to win the US Open since Tony Jacklin in 1970.

Victory comes 15 years after Rose emerged on the golfing scene, claiming the silver medal as the leading amateur at the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.

Overnight leader Mickelson was seeking to claim his first US Open title on his 43rd birthday, but he quickly found trouble, making double bogeys at the third and the fifth.

Playing partner Hunter Mahan stuck close with him, while Luke Donald quickly found himself out of contention, with dropped shots in three of the first five holes, and a double bogey on six.

His playing partner Rose was showing few nerves however, making consecutive birdies at six and seven, the former a monster 90ft putt evoking memories of his brilliance during the Ryder Cup at Medinah.

Mickelson's glorious eagle at 10 looked like sparking his fourth round charge, as Rose three-putted the 11th but the 32 year old hit the front after making birdie at 13 with a putt from 20ft.

Rose, playing two groups ahead of Mickelson and Mahan, was unperturbed by the home crowd support, hitting the front again with four holes to play as Mickelson hit trouble on 13 with a wayward tee shot and then again at 15.

As Rose holed out on the last, finishing one-over for the tournament, Mickelson missed from 25ft to draw level, but required a birdie down the last to fore a day five play-off.

The three-time major winner was unable to produce the heroics required however on the hardest hole on the course as Rose, whose celebration at the end of his round was in tribute to his late-father Ken who passed away 11 years ago, ended a 17-year wait for an English major winner.