Rio Olympics 2016: Justin Rose credits late dad Ken with giving him mental strength needed to seal gold
JUSTIN ROSE has credited late dad Ken with giving him the mental strength needed to claim Rio gold after an epic duel with Henrik Stenson.
The Team GB star produced a clutch pitch shot on the final hole for a tap-in birdie and two-shot win.
And he said the steeliness needed to produce under pressure came from his father - while his golfing talent came from his mum!
Speaking on , 2013 US Open champ Rose said: "My dad unfortunately is upstairs... but I'd say my mental strength came from my dad, I'll give him that.
";From my early days, when I was as young as five, my dad used to encourage me to go and practise.
"I think he could see a talent there that he felt like he wanted to nurture. I was a good excuse to let him go out and play golf!
"And my mum too. Mum's a bit of a dark horse, she doesn't play much golf but hits a great ball.
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"Dare I say it I think the talent came from her side of the family more than his!"
Rose came to the final hole Sunday tied with Open champion Stenson.
But a deft chip from 30 yards secured yet another Great Britain gold, this one coming 112 years since golf was last in the Olympics.
It is another landmark achievement on a stellar career that threatened to be over before it began.
Rose missed 21 cuts in a row after turning pro.
But when others dug the knife in, Justin stuck by dad Ken, who caddied for him on his first pro victory on British soil in 2002.
He lost his battle with illness aged 57 but his impact on his son's career has been immense.
And now Rose, whose son Leo cried when he found out his dad had won, is targeting more gold medals in future.
He added: "My goal is to be back at Tokyo in 2020. To replicate this would be incredible. I will keep trying as best I can."