Great Britain's Justin Rose hailed a dream come true after claiming golf's first Olympic gold medal for 112 years by 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 securing 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 failed to convert his long-range attempt, 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.
"It feels absolutely incredible," said the former US Open champion, whose win takes him back inside the world's top 10.
"I was on that last green, just sort of pinching myself and taking myself back to the quote that I had given about the Olympics all along - I hope my resume one day reads 'multiple major champion and Olympic gold medallist'. But let's just call it major champion and Olympic gold medallist, I'd be a very, very happy man.
"The whole week I've been so focused, I've been so up for it. I've been just so determined to represent Team GB as best as I could, and it was just the most magical week, it really was.
"This is a dream come true. I've been thinking about Rio for a long, long time. I made it a big deal in my year and I had the benefit of walking in the opening ceremony and watching other sports, which was all part of the plan.
"Once I got here and experienced the whole vibe I've just been really excited and to come out with a medal is great. To come out with a gold is unbelievable. It sits alongside the US Open trophy for me."
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.
Stenson 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 his physio after hitting his tee shot on the 14th.
Having failed to find the green, Stenson then hit a poor chip and missed from 20 feet for par and 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 the Englishman who produced the best pitch from short of the green on the par-five 18th to secure a famous win.
"I'm pleased with my performance," said Stenson, who will replace Rory McIlroy as world number four when the rankings are updated on Monday.
"Of course, when you're in a good position to try and win you always kind of feel a little disappointed afterwards. But at the same time we said that all along in the Olympics you've got some pretty good consolation prizes.
"I had a bit of an issue, my thoracic spine locked up after the tee shot on the 13th and put me out of rhythm a little. I can't say it was purely down to that but it was not helping, put it that way.
"But I was still there at the end and it came down to whoever made birdie down the last. I didn't hit a good shot and that opened the door for Justin."
Kuchar, who only got into the US team when Jordan Spieth withdrew before the Open and did not know there was no team competition until recently, said: ''It's the happiest I've ever been to finish third. I'm just bursting with pride right now.''