Justin Rose is attempting to become the first Englishman to win the US Open since Tony Jacklin in 1970.
Rose wasn't born when Jacklin won at Hazeltine, and only one Englishman – Sir Nick Faldo – has captured a Major since with his three Open and three Masters victories, but Rose and Luke Donald are right in contention as the final day of drama at Merion unfolds.
In the 113 year history of the US Open, the 54 hole leader has gone on to win 47 times and the crowd are sure to be rooting for Phil Mickelson, five times a runner-up in his national Open, to win on his 43rd birthday.
But should Donald or Rose, both starting the final round two shots back, win – here are a few of the milestones they will hit:-
• Would become first Englishman to win the US Open Championship since Tony Jacklin in 1970.
• Would follow Horace Rawlins (1895), Joe Lloyd (1897), Harry Vardon (1900), George Sargent (1909), Ted Ray (1920), Jim Barnes (1921), Cyril Walker (1924) and Tony Jacklin (1970), as Englishmen to win the US Open Championship.
• Would be the 46th Major Championship victory by a European Tour Member since 1979.
• Would become the 23rd different European Tour Member to win a Major Championship since 1979.
• Would become only the second Englishman to win a Major Championship since 1979, following Sir Nick Faldo and first English Major winner since Faldo at the 1996 Masters Tournament.
• Would become the seventh European Tour Member to win the US Open Championship since the birth of the Tour in 1972, following Ernie Els (1994 and 1997), Retief Goosen (2001 and 2004), Michael Campbell (2005), Angel Cabrera (2007), Graeme McDowell (2010) and Rory McIlroy (2011).
• Would become the fifth consecutive season that the winner of the US Open Championship has made this Major their first Major triumph following: Lucas Glover (2009), Graeme McDowell (2010), Rory McIlroy (2011) and Webb Simpson (2012).
• Would record the 279th English victory in European Tour history.
For Rose, who so memorably came fourth in The Open in 1998 at Royal Birkdale as an amateur, it would be a first Major title in 37 appearances and could take him to third in the Official World Golf Ranking. His previous best performance in eight US Opens was tied fifth on his debut in 2003, while his best finish in any of the four Majors was tied third in last year’s US PGA Championship.
Donald, who could move up to third in the world ranking with a win, is looking for his first Major in his 40th appearance and tenth US Open. The US Open is the only one of the four Majors where he has so far been unable to register a top ten, his previous best being joint 12th in 2006, compared to joint third in both the 2005 Masters and 2006 US PGA.
