Britain's Justin Rose claimed golf's first Olympic gold medal for 112 years after edging out Open champion Henrik Stenson in a thrilling final-round battle in Rio.
Rose carded a closing 67 at Reserva de Marapendi to finish 16 under par and two shots ahead of Ryder Cup partner Stenson, with American Matt Kuchar claiming bronze after a superb 63.
The outcome was only decided on the 72nd hole when Rose pitched to three feet to set up a decisive birdie and Stenson missed his attempt from long range, the 40-year-old Swede also missing the return putt for par.
That left the stage clear for Rose to tap-in and seal victory before punching the air in delight, the 36-year-old having been one of the major supporters of golf's return to the Games, while more than 20 of his fellow professionals had opted out of competing.
Waterford's Seamus Power briefly threatened to win Ireland’s second medal in Rio when he stood just one shot off the bronze medal position after 11 holes of the final round.
The 29-year-old posted a four-under-par round of 67 that, in the end, was good enough for a share of 15th place on five under.
Power was undone when he followed up a bogey on the 14th with a double bogey on the next hole.
The world number 295 got off to an amazing start.
Starting the day 11 shots off the lead and eight off third place, Power produced five birdies on the front nine to go out in 30.
Another followed on the tenth and his par on the 11th got him to within touching distance of a podium place.
However, three dropped shots on 14 and 15 ended his hopes for the day and a final birdie on 16 served as a consolation only.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport after his round, Power said: “It’s kind of one of those ‘What could have been' weeks.
"The final three or four holes are the ones you really want to get after and I played them horribly this week.
“Overall, it was a great experience I gave my best, it just wasn’t quite meant to be.
Team Ireland golfer @Power4Seamus says Waterford hurlers are on the up #rterio2016 #rtegaa https://t.co/LbvgFoJcj7
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) August 14, 2016
“I was five under through six, I was six under through 10 and I’d a couple of near misses, on two and nine so it could have been something really special.
“A couple of loose shots on 14 and 15 but overall I can’t complain, I just left myself too much to do."
Team Ireland was hit by a series of pull-outs ahead of the Games with Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry and Graeme McDowell all opting not to compete. Those decisions were controversial but did open the door for Power to represent his country.
“It’s unbelievable,” he added.
“Just representing Ireland on a stage like this, is something, as a golfer, you never thought you’d get. It’s such an honour for me, I had a great time.
“Paul [McGinley, team captain] and Padraig [Harrington] were fantastic. All the support from everyone back home, West Waterford golf club. They were sending messages like you wouldn’t believe.
“It was pretty special, I’ll never forget it.”
Compatriot Harrington, having put himself in a decent position on moving day with a round of four under, just seven off the lead, was two over par for today’s round and that meant an overall score of three under and a tie for 21st.
The triple-major winner carded three birdies and five bogeys in a disappointing final round.
A month after Stenson had won a thrilling duel with Phil Mickelson at Royal Troon, the Olympics also effectively became a match-play contest between two of the six major champions in the 60-man field.
Rose took a one-shot lead over Stenson into the final round and there was never more than a stroke between them until the end, with both men carding three birdies in the first five holes.
A bogey on the seventh briefly cost Rose the outright lead but he responded superbly with a birdie from five feet on the next, only for Stenson to draw level again with a two-putt birdie on the 10th.
Stenson then took the lead for the first time when Rose failed to get up and down from a greenside bunker on the 13th, but was struggling with an injury and received treatment from a physio after hitting his tee shot on the 14th.
Having missed the green, Stenson then hit a poor chip and missed from 20 feet for par, before Rose crucially holed from 15 feet after splashing out of more sand.
That left the pair tied for the lead with Kuchar only a shot behind after a superb tee shot on the 17th set up a tap-in birdie, but Rose edged in front again with a birdie on the 15th.
Kuchar needed to birdie the last to record a superb 62 and keep the pressure on, but left his putt short from 18 feet and had to wait to see if a certain bronze could be upgraded if the top duo faltered.
There was no chance of that when Stenson pitched to four feet for birdie on the short 16th to join Rose on 15 under, but it was Rose who produced the best pitch on the par-five 18th to secure a famous win.
