Rose misses out on return to No 1 but has another shot

Justin Rose was just one place away from returning to world No1 at the WGC-HSBC Champions event in Shanghai yesterday. Yet if it sounds like he missed out by a whisker, in truth it was a long whisker.

The Englishman needed to finish outright second at Sheshan Golf Club to displace Brooks Koepka at the top of the rankings, but despite closing to within a shot after nine holes of the final round, he finished a distant third, four shots behind, on 10 under with a level-par 72.

Americans Xander Schauffele and Tony Finau both ended on 14 under, following a 68 and 71 respectively, with Schauffele winning the play-off on the first extra hole.

It was still a fine effort from Rose, the defending champion, and he will have another chance at this week’s Turkish Airlines Open to move back to the summit.

The 38-year-old will arrive today at the Regnum Carya Golf Resort, where he will again be the defending champion, in confident and determined mood.

“I have two events left to defend, this one in Turkey now and then at the Indonesian Masters [in December],” he said. “I’ve never defended a tournament before, so that’s the goal for this run.”

Schauffele closed with birdies on the 17th and 18th to force sudden death with Finau, who held a threeshot lead going into the final round, earning a cheque for £1.1 million.

Tommy Fleetwood finished in a tie for seventh, while Rory Mcilroy completed a week to forget by ending in a tie for 54th following a 74 for a 10-over total.