Forget the past

Rose vows not to dwell on narrow Race to Dubai loss

HONG KONG: Justin Rose (pic) has vowed not to dwell on narrowly missing a “fairytale ending” to the golf season after his implosion in Dubai cost him the annual European Tour prize by a single shot.

The Englishman had won two tournaments in a row to bring himself back into contention for the Race to Dubai crown.

He was leading the field at the turn on Sunday at the season-ending DP World Tour Championships before a series of bogies cost him the title.

Rose’s eagle attempt from just off the green on the 18th hole rolled agonisingly wide, handing the European Tour order of merit to compatriot Tommy Fleetwood on the final hole of 12 months of golf.

“I’m not going to stand here and look at one shot, and second-guess it, because there were so many good shots that put me in that situation,” Rose said yesterday, ahead of this week’s Hong Kong Open.

“It was definitely nearly the fairytale ending to the season,” he added.

It was a second near-miss of 2017 for Olympic champion Rose in an otherwise successful year, after he also lost out in the Masters playoff to Sergio Garcia in April.

“I think the near-misses are just part of the game.

“There have been a couple this year but I’ve had many moments where the difference between winning and losing is so small,” the 37-year-old said.

”I could easily look at a couple of shots and say yeah I’d love to hit them again, but I think you just need to accept it. I certainly don’t dwell on it.”

Rose, Garcia and Fleetwood will face off in a competitive field at the Hong Kong Open, which kicks off next year’s European Tour.

Garcia, who ranked third on the 2017 Tour going into the weekend, also had an unexpected opportunity to claim the Race to Dubai title as his rivals slipped up in the closing moments of Sunday’s finale.

But he found a creek on the 18th hole and eventually made a bogey.

“When I was walking off the 16th I saw I was one shot behind Justin, but at that time I was thinking I have to finish birdie, birdie,” said the Spaniard.

“I did what I had to do, which was try to push on hard at the weekend, I had two really good days and almost came through. But it’s been a great year.”

Meanwhile, Rose has also confirmed participation in the final event of this year’s Asian Tour at the Indonesian Masters in December.

The Indonesian Masters is held at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club from Dec 14-17 and will decide the Asian Tour Order of Merit winner, who receives direct entry into the British Open and World Golf Champion-ships next year.— Agencies