Rose climbs to third in world after his ninth PGA Tour win

Justin Rose could be the world No 1 when he arrives at Gullane in July to try to claim a second Scottish Open title in five years after landing his ninth PGA Tour victory.

The 37-year-old moved to third in the rankings behind Justin Thomas and Dustin Johnson with his latest Stateside success in the Fort Worth Invitational and has a chance to leap above both of them in this week’s Memorial Tournament in Ohio.

Rose carded a six-under-par closing round of 64 at Colonial Country Club in Texas to finish with a 20-under total – three clear of nearest challenger Brooks Koepka.

“I’m delighted the way I played this week,” said Rose as he celebrated his fourth global success since last November, having sparked that hot streak when winning a World Golf Championship in China then adding the Turkish Airlines Challenge a week later.

“The way I hit the ball this week... I’m a little speechless. This is something for me to build on. This week was a big step in the right direction. There’s still more work to be done. It’s going to be about conserving that energy into the US Open.”

Koepka, a former SSE Scottish Challenge winner, will defend his US Open title at Shinnecock Hills in just over a fortnight’s time and he closed with a 63 to claim second spot.

Meanwhile, Rose’s fellow countryman, Paul Broadhurst, dominated the final day of the Kitchenaid Senior PGA Championship as he won by four shots at Harbor Shores Golf Club in Michigan.

This is the 52-year-old’s seventh victory since joining the over-50s ranks and his second Senior major after landing the Senior Open Championship at Carnoustie in 2016.

“It’s obviously up there with the Senior Open,” said Broadhurst after closing with rounds of 64 and 63 to leave a strong field trailing in his wake at the finish as he ended up with a 19-under-par 265 total. “They’re the top two and I just wish I was playing like this on the main tour 20 years ago.”

In the ladies’ ranks, Australian Minjee Lee celebrated her 22nd birthday in style by birdieing the 18th hole to close with a four-under 68 and win the LPGA Volvik Championship by one shot over Women’s British Open champion I.K. Kim in Ann Arbor, also in Michigan.