Justin Rose wins 2017 Turkish Airlines Open
KUWAIT: Justin Rose claimed victory at the Turkish Airlines Open 2017 yesterday, with a final round of 65 leaving him 18 under par for the tournament, which was played in front of record crowds.
The close fought competition was decided on the 72nd hole where Rose, the gold medallist at last year’s Olympics, pulled clear with a fine birdie leaving him a shot ahead of Nicolas Colsaerts and Dylan Frittelli at the Regnum Carya Golf and Spa Resort for his second win in two weeks.
Rose’s win was not the end of the drama for the huge crowds, with Turkish Airlines taking to the skies to present the Englishman, who won the 2012 Turkish Airlines World Final and last week’s WGCHSBC Champions, with the trophy.
Hoverboard world record holder Alexandru Duru flew in to hand the trophy over and his appearance from the Belek skies provided a fitting end to another remarkable week at the Turkish Airlines Open.
The Turkish Airlines Open is part of the European Tour’s Rolex Series - a selection of eight premier events on the European Tour, each with a prize fund of at least $7 million. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mevlut Cavusoglu said: “Welcome to my hometown Antalya and to my country. This is the fifth year of this tournament and without Turkish Airlines it would not have happened. Thanks to this event, golf is growing in this country and is more popular than ever.” Minister of Youth and Sports, Osman Askin Bak said: “Today we have reached the end of another successful Turkish Airlines Open. Our support to this event will continue until 2023 which is the 100th anniversary of the Turkish Republic. I also extend my thanks to Turkish Airlines.”
Turkish Airlines’ Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, M. Ilker Ayci, said: “Flying to more countries than any other airline and attaching our name to the finest tournaments in the world, Turkish Airlines is once again proud to have displayed our high service quality and our hallmark hospitality through this tournament to a global audience. Moreover, Turkish Airlines Open has earned Antalya, and Belek in particular, a place in the itinerary of many players as a top golf destination, thanks to the tournament’s wide reach across the world. We were also delighted to surprise everyone with Alexandru Duru flying in to deliver the trophy today. Turkish Airlines remains committed to growing golf globally, through both our sponsorship of this event and organisation of the Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup Amateur series, which gives almost 8,000 amateurs a chance to tee off at some of the world’s best golf courses.”
Winner of the Turkish Airlines Open 2017 Rose said: “It’s been great to be back in Antalya. I really love it here. I’ve had a great week and really enjoyed playing this course.It was lots of fun. Before I have won with two putts on the last green and it was unique to make a putt that really counted on the last hole.”
It is the fifth time that Turkish Airlines has sponsored the tournament, which took place between 2-5 November 2017. The airline’s agreement with the European Tour last one more year.