Justin Rose Ends Year in Style with Victory in Indonesia

Just when you thought that the golf season was done and dusted, Justin Rose produced a masterclass to win the Indonesian Masters by eight shots after a stunning final round of 62. It was the Englishman’s third victory in less than two months and came after he was forced to play 30 holes on the final day after the tournament was badly affected by weather delays. It was the 21st victory of his extraordinary career and brings the curtain down on what has been an impressive year.

As he stood on the seventh tee on Saturday preparing to hit his drive, a massive thunderclap shook him – and everybody else who was still on the course. Seconds later, play was stopped and the players were rushed from the course and told they would have to come back on Sunday and do it all over again.

At one stage in the final round it appeared that Rose might be on course to finish his season with a 59 – he was 10 under par after just 13 holes but dropped a shot at the par-four 16th at Royal Jakarta Golf Club. It was his second 62 of the week – he opened the tournament with the same score.

After weather delays on Friday and Saturday, Rose was forced to play the final 12 holes of his third round before heading back out to complete his tournament. He completed that in 66 to give him a three-stroke lead heading into the final round, which started almost immediately and with the same threesomes as the third round.

Well done @JustinRose99 ????@IndoMasters pic.twitter.com/Okfh2S6h60

— Asian Tour (@asiantourgolf) December 17, 2017

Rose, who led from start to finish, had a 72-hole total of 29-under 259. Phachara Khongwatmai of Thailand was a distant second after a final round of 65.

It has been a memorable conclusion to 2017 for Rose, who also won the WGC-HSBC Champions in China and the Turkish Airlines Open and led the Dubai World Championship as he attempted to overhaul Tommy Fleetwood and snatch the European Tour’s Race to Dubai title from Tommy Fleetwood – ultimately, he ran out of steam, but he will be delighted with the way he has played in recent weeks and will hope that he can take this form into the new year.

Remember, too, that he tied with Sergio Garcia after 72 holes at The Masters, only losing out on the Green Jacket to the Spaniard after a playoff.

And so we can confirm that the season is now officially over – but not for long!

What a week in Indonesia! ???? (62+69+66+62 = 259 -29) pic.twitter.com/j7dIsHfpS1

— Justin Rose (@JustinRose99) December 17, 2017

As we prepare to say farewell to another amazing year, Sandy Lyle has been speaking about what is likely to be his final appearance in The Open at Carnoustie. The Scot, who won in 1985, turns 60 in February and his exemption will come to an end after he plays in Scotland in 2018. He first played in The Open when he was 16 and has thus far taken part on 42 occasions. He won The Open in 1985 and three years later added The Masters.

He admits that the prospect of playing in his final Open leaves him feeling emotional. "It's kind of a scary thing when you go back to the boyhood dreams of playing in The Open and managing to play The Open Championship at the age of 16 to now coming up to my last year, possibly," said Lyle. "It does get you in the throat definitely. I'm not really an emotional person but it does put a bit of a lump in the throat. The time has come to make way for other guys to play.

"I actually got quite emotional when I played at The Open when it was at St Andrews when it was [Jack] Nicklaus' last trip. I thought this is possibly the last time I'll be walking over this bridge in The Open Championship. Unless I do well in the seniors event or qualify through other sources or go to the regional qualifying. 43 years I've played in The Open. It has been a wonderful experience and I'd do it again in a heartbeat."