Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Rose in bloom for Open
JUSTIN Rose claimed his ninth PGA Tour title with a comprehensive three-shot win at t he Fort Worth Invitational.
The 37-year-old Englishman carded a sixunder-par closing round of 64 to finish with a 20-under total – t hree clear of nearest challenger Brooks Koepka.
The victory is Olympic champion Rose’s fourth global success since November 2017 and will see him move to third in the world rankings. He will also have a chance to become world No 1 for the first time at next week’s Memorial Tournament.
“I’m delighted the way I played this week,” Rose said.
“The way I hit the ball this week . . . I’m a little speechless.
“This week was a step in the right direction.
“There’s still more work to be done. It’s going to be about conserving t hat energy into the US Open.”
Starting the day four ahead of US Open champ Koepka and Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo, Rose came racing out the blocks at Colonial Country Club with birdies at the first and second.
Driving into a fairway bunker cost him a bogey at the third but Rose fired a hat-trick of birdies from the fifth and rolled in a 10-footer at the ninth to turn in 30.
Further gains at the 11th and 14th kept the fastfinishing Koepka at bay, with the American making four birdies on the back nine to sign for a round of 63.
Grillo carded a closing 64 to finish third on 16 under, two ahead of America’s Kevin Na, who broke the course record with a 61.