Rose’s long march to freedom

Justin Rose’s magnificent US Open triumph was a victory for the good guy, the hard-worker, the gentleman and the good son.

Whether it will turn out to be a godsend for English golf and the golden generation that until Sunday failed to live up to the hype, remains to be seen.

In denying Phil Mickelson the title he wants above all others, Rose ended a 17-year wait for an English victory in a men’s major championship that goes back to Nick Faldo’s heart-breaking dismantling of Greg Norman at the Masters in 1996.