JUSTIN ROSE DEFEATED Lee Westwood by one shot to claim the World Golf Final in an all-English decider today.
Rose posted a five-under-par 66 at the Antalya Golf Club, with a birdie two at the 17th helping him across the line in a tight stroke-play matchplay contest.
After birdies at three and seven, Westwood mounted a late challenge by birdying the 16th and the 18th in Turkey, but it was not enough to overcome the lead built by his compatriot. Rose did his best work early, sinking birdies at the first, third, eighth and 10th holes, before sealing the deal on the penultimate hole.
Both men demonstrated their consistency across the 18 holes in Belek, as neither recorded a single bogey. Rose had anchored Europe’s remarkable comeback win against the United States in Illinois last month, sinking a succession of improbable putts to defeat Phil Mickelson in dramatic fashion.
And the in-form 32-year-old demonstrated his excellent touch again on Friday, making birdie putts from 25 feet on both the first and 17th holes. He suffered a scare by missing a short birdie putt on the 16th, but made no mistake with his par putt on the last hole, after Westwood had put the pressure with a final birdie.
Rose pocketed a US$ 1.5 million cheque for winning the competition, which was his second victory of 2012 to go with the WGC Cadillac Championship.
