Justin Rose Misses Out on Title But is on Top of the World

JUSTIN ROSE lost the BMW Championship after a playoff with Keegan Bradley but still did enough to overtake Dustin Johnson at the top of the world rankings. The Englishman also moved up to second place in the FedEx rankings with just the Tour Championship to come.

Rose lipped out on the 72nd green as he tried to win in regulation and he then saw a five-foot par putt lip out on the first playoff hole to hand the title to Bradley. Rose had played brilliant golf for four days and held his nerve for most of a thrilling final day as he battled for title with Bradley, Xander Schauffele, Billy Horschel, Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods.

Bradley appeared to have the tournament won when he came to the 72nd hole leading Rose by a shot, but he dropped a stroke and then had to wait to see if the Englishman could birdie the hole to snatch the title.

The final round had been washed out by a thunderstorm on Sunday and the greenskeepers worked wonders to get it playable. With soft greens, it was inevitable that it would be a day of low scoring, and that is how it turned out. Bradley shot a 64, Rose a 67, Schauffele a 67, Woods a 65, Horschel a 64, and McIlroy a 68.

Rose and Bradley finished on 21 under par, two ahead of Schauffele and Horschel. McIlroy was fifth on his own on 18 under, with Webb Simpson and Woods on 17 under, and Tony Finau, Rickie Fowler, Tommy Fleetwood and Francesco Molinari on 16 under.

Jim Furyk, the US Ryder Cup captain, later confirmed that Finau’s latest top-10 finish of the season was good enough to secure him the final wild-card pick in the American team. 

“Becoming number one in the world is boyhood dream stuff, something I am incredibly proud of," Rose said. "It's been a good stretch of golf. I've played solidly over the past year. I'm delighted to get to the top." 

We did it Dad.... World Number 1? Thank you so much to my family, friends & everybody that has helped me achieve this incredible goal. Also, my sponsors @TaylorMadeGolf @adidasGolf @Hublot @Mastercard @ZurichNAnews @MorganStanley @LamkinGrips Thank you! #Team???? pic.twitter.com/geZgcpTR7U

— Justin Rose ???? (@JustinRose99) September 10, 2018

Of his putt at the last to win, he said: "I thought it was as good a putt as I've hit to win a tournament. To see it spin out was really unfortunate. I'd always envisaged getting to number one by winning tournaments. Last week's second was a good-feeling second and this one is a stinging-feeling second, but I know there is a bit of good news."

Jordan Spieth had a poor day and finished in 31st place in the standings - he is now likely to face a PGA Tour fine as failing to make the field for the Tour Championship at East Lake means he ends the season finishing one tournament short of the number he was required to play in. At the start of 2018 it wouldn’t have entered his head - or anybody else’s - that he would not be in the field at East Lake. It means that for the first time since he turned professonal, Spieth will finish the season without a victory to his credit.

However, it does mean that he will be able to recharge his batteries before the Ryder Cup at Le Golf National in Paris at the end of the month. Alex Noren, Henrik Stenson, Ian Poulter and Tyrrell Hatton also missed out on the top 30. 

So which Ryder Cup players will be in the field at the Tour Championship? For Europe, Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood, Jon Rahm, Paul Casey, Francesco Molinari and Rory McIlroy. And for the USA, Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas, Brooks Koepka, Rickie Fowler, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Bubba Watson, Webb Simpson, Patrick Reed and Tony Finau. In other words, 11 of Jim Furyk’s team will complete the FedEx Cup Playoffs on the Sunday night and then have to board a flight to cross the Atlantic, fly to France, rest and recuperate and overcome jet lag before facing three of the toughest days of their season. Meanwhile, just six of Thomas Bjorn’s team will be at East Lake.