New US Open Champion and Putney resident Justin Rose has dedicated his historic victory to his late father.

Rose, 32, secured his first major golf championship at Merion, in Pennsylvania, yesterday evening.

The new champion was clearly emotional as he blew a kiss to the sky after his final putt in honour of his late father.

He said: "I couldn't help but look up to the heavens because my dad Ken had something to do with it.

"All of us come from a great man. On Fathers' Day I wanted to carry myself in a way I could be proud of when I came off the golf course."

In doing so he became the first Englishman to win the title, since Tony Jacklin in 1970, for 43 years.

The triumph also ends England's 17 year wait for a major title, the last being Nick Faldo's Masters victory in 1996.

Rose, his wife Katie and their two children split their time between their riverside flat in Putney. which the couple bought in 2004, and their mansion in Florida.