Rio Olympics 2016: Justin Rose’s young son cries as even absentee Rory McIlroy sneaks a peak at gold glory
JUSTIN ROSE admitted he was delighted to receive a message of congratulations from Rory McIlroy.
“He was obviously watching,” said Rose, to gales of laughter, of the stayaway Irishman who had claimed he would not even turn on the telly to witness golf’s return to the Olympics.
But the reaction to Rose’s historic victory which meant the most to him came from his seven-year-old son Leo.
Rose, 36, whose celebrations meant he missed his flight and the chance to take Leo to watch Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, said: “He was so excited. I’ve never seen my little boy in tears. I’m going to cry myself now!
“I’ve never seen it resonate so much with him. He’s just beginning to understand what sport is all about.
“He went to a football camp last week and got a medal. He said to me a couple of days ago, ‘Right, dad, I’ve got my medal, now it’s time for you to get yours’.
“He was actually crying when I phoned him. I’ve never seen that before. That was very, very special.”
Leo is not the only kid to see golf differently after dad’s last-hole triumph.
Rose added: “People were saying to me that their kids had never been into golf before but could identify with the sport a lot more because it represented a gold medal — and they could relate to that.
“It takes the power of golf into the sports world and the patriotic support of the nation.
“I had three or four texts along those lines from the deeper darker parts of your phone book that don’t often come up.”
McIlroy — presumably — does not fall into that category.
Rose accepted the four-time Major winner’s good wishes gladly. But that will not stop him reminding McIlroy and other big names who stayed away from Rio what they missed for the next four years.
Rose said: “He said he was pulling for me and could see how much it meant to me.
“He was very complimentary and happy for me. He was obviously watching!
“He has his own opinions on it that are very personal to him. But as a whole he is very much behind golf succeeding in the Olympics.
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“All the guys probably made their decision for good reasons and persuaded themselves it was a good decision.
“But to be sitting at home watching other guys get the glory is something that’s not going to sit well with them.
“They are going to have wait four years. That’s a big deal.
“That is what makes this special — it’s an opportunity that comes around so rarely.
“Hopefully they will take that opportunity in 2020.
“It’s a huge win for me. It’s made my season. It’s made my year. It’s made my next four years.
“It’s amazing bragging rights. Many guys are going to win tournaments and Majors between now and the next Olympic Games. But there will be little old me, just bragging away. We’re going to have some fun with it on the range.”
It was heartwarming to see Rose’s pride in ranking alongside childhood hero ‘Olympic Crispie’ as a Team GB gold medallist.
Rose explained: “That’s what I called Linford Christie. I was a young kid at the time. I thought that was his name. Those are my images from childhood.
“Now I’m identifying with the fastest men and women on earth, the longest jumpers, the athleticism, the gymnasts.”
And with Andy Murray, the last of Britain’s gold medallists on the most Super Sunday in British sporting history.
Rose said: “We shared a row of seats on the way back from the Opening Ceremony and were able to chat. It’s quite cool to fast forward 10 days and see both of us winning Olympic gold.
“I managed to watch the last two games of Andy’s match. Nigel Tilley, who is the GB physio, bumped into Andy at the village last night and he said that he had watched my last hole just before going on to court.
“Max winning his golds his well, Jason in the cycling. Being part of that Sunday is something that I’m very very proud of.”
The gold medal will have pride of place at ‘Chez Rose’, next to his replica US Open trophy from his win in 2013.
Rose said: “We’ve talked about how we are going to display it.
“Do I get a little mannequin with a podium jacket? I’m not sure.
“I will let as many people wear it as they want.”
Maybe if you ask really nicely, Rory.
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