Hampshire’s Justin Rose has been crowned the US Open champion.

The 32-year-old emerged victorious on a dramatic final day at Merion to claim his first ever major.

Rose signed for a level-par 70 on Sunday to finish one-over for the championship, two shots ahead of Phil Mickelson and Jason Day.

He becomes the first Englishman in 43 years to win the tournament, and the first to claim any major since Nick Faldo in 1996.

As he tapped in at the last, an emotional Rose aimed a kiss skyward and pointed to the heavens, in a gesture towards his late father, Ken.

“You saw me look to the heavens, obviously with it being Father’s Day, I was just remembering my dad,” said Rose, as he fought back the tears.

“For it to just all work out for me, it was such an emotional day, and I just couldn’t help but look up to the heavens and think my old dad, Ken, had something to do with it.”

He added: “I don’t know what to say really, other than that I’m thrilled.

“What a day. I just stayed in my tunnel all the way through the round and I certainly had my moments where I had to dig deep, a couple of bogeys on the back side, but I kept telling myself that’s what everybody’s doing and I rallied with a couple of birdies around the middle of the back nine.

“The last five you’ve just got to finish them. I made two really good swings up 18. I wanted to finish in style, like (Ben) Hogan (who famously won the tournament in 1950).”

The day sparked memories of the titanic singles battle between Rose and Mickelson in last year’s historic Ryder Cup.

Back then, in front of a partisan American crowd, it was Rose who prevailed. The same was true here, as home favourite Mickelson came up short against the former North Hants member.

The Philadelphia fans had been desperate for Mickelson, five times a runner-up in the US Open, to finally win the competition.

It had looked for much of the week as if he would, but two double bogeys in his opening five holes on Sunday opened the door to the rest of the challengers.

Rose took full advantage, and even Mickelson’s incredible eagle at the tenth, when he holed his approach shot, couldn’t derail his charge.

Requiring a birdie at the last to force a play-off, the American could do no better than a bogey, dropping him back into a tie for second with Australian Day.

As he was handed the trophy, Rose for a moment shook his head in mild disbelief. For Mickelson, who was celebrating his 43rd birthday, it was devastating.

“Heartbreak,” was his response when asked what he would take away from the tournament. “This is tough to swallow after coming so close. This way my best chance of all of them, because I was playing well and I had a golf course I really liked.”

Rose, who began the day one-over-par and two strokes off the lead, dropped a shot at the 266-yard par-three third hole, but responded immediately with a birdie.

A bogey followed at five, but a monster putt across the green at the sixth hauled him back to level for the day, while another birdie at seven put him into the lead.

Rose lost a shot at 11, but again issued a perfect riposte, birdieing the following two holes to move back to one-under for the tournament.

Bogeys at 14 and 16 meant a nervous finish, but pars at his final two holes meant he was able to hold off the chasing pack.