Golf News - Justin Rose holds on for popular win in Chicago
Last updated 9/19/2011 3:17:06 PM
Golf News - Justin Rose holds on for popular win in Chicago
English golfer Justin Rose held his nerve to win his third PGA Tour title and, more important, clinch his place in the BMW Championships in Atlanta.
The 31 year old Rose chipped in for birdie on the 17th hole and then hung on to win, finishing with an even-par 71 at Cog Hill, near Chicago.
Rose had watched a five-shot lead over John Senden whittled down to just one, until that birdie chip gave him the cushion for a third PGA Tour title, finally winning by two shots.
Rose, a wonderful talent who has never enjoyed the best of luck, admitted: “I took on a few crazy shots."
"The manner in which I won this tournament, it rates as high as the best tournament I've ever won, just by going wire-to-wire.
"I think mentally this is the best I've ever been in terms of being very under control with my emotions, being very calm, being very aware of the situation and feeling comfortable with it.
"I may have had better ball striking weeks as a whole but I think this week as a competitor and as a professional, I think it was probably my best ever performance."
The world number 17, having started his round nervously with a bogey at the par-three second, got back on track with birdies on the sixth and seventh.
He held a one-shot advantage over Senden going up the 17th but, after a poor approach, a wonderful holed chip for birdie effectively handed him the title with Senden only managing a par after putting his second shot in the bunker.
Rose admitted former European Tour professional Mark Roe deserved some credit for his birdie on the 17th.
Rose, who turned professional at age 18 the day after finishing fourth as an amateur at the 1998 Open, said: “ Roe has given me a couple of simple keys and a simple understanding of doing, I guess, what I did as a kid again.
"For some reason I got myself in a bit of a mess with my short game, I was way too open to the shot, squared up my shoulders and it's been a lot better for sure.
"And I think I proved it down the stretch. I missed a couple of greens and I scrambled pretty nicely when I had to.
Rose, who climbed to third in the FedEx Cup play-off standings ahead of next week's Tour Championship finale, added: "I nearly took the chicken stick out [on the 17th] and putted it but I said to myself it was a makeable chip so I had to commit."
The Australian Senden finished a shot ahead of countryman Geoff Ogilvy, who carded a closing 69.
World number one Luke Donald ended another impressive week by coming fourth courtesy of a 68, which contained three birdies on the back nine.