Fleetwood is Europe’s No 1 after Rose’s late collapse

Spain’s Jon Rahm won the DP World Tour Championship as Justin Rose’s dramatic late collapse saw Tommy Fleet wood crowned European No 1 for the first time yesterday.

Rose looked set for a remarkable third win in succession to seal a second Race to Dubai title when he led by a shot with seven holes to play, only to bogey three of the next five.

That left the Olympic champion needing to eagle the last to overhaul Fleet wood, but his long-range attempts lid past the hole as Fleetwood looked on alongside his fiancée Clare and their seven-week-old son. “It’s not kind of sunk in yet,” said 26-year-old Fleetwood.

“It was difficult being sat on the couch in the scoring area, just watching TV, not being able to do anything.

“You just have to watch how it unfolds and I felt for Justin a lot. I think how gracious he was shows a lot about his character.”

Rose began the final round with a oneshot lead and maintained that advantage thanks to a front nine of 32, but failed to get up and down from a greenside bunker on the 12 th and found water with his approach to the 14th.

That dropped the 37-year-old into a three-way tie for fifth and back below Fleetwood in the Race to Dubai, with another bogey on the 16th ultimately leaving him too much to do.

Rose had to settle for a tie for fourth on 17 under par, two shots behind European Tour rookie of the year Rahm, who secured his second victory of the season thanks to a closing 67.

Scot Richie Ram say carded a 70 to finish on six under. David Drysale was one shot further back after a second successive 69. Scott Jamieson (72) was three-under and Marc Warren (70) two-under.