Consistency key element in Rose win
PEBBLE BEACH >> Consistency rules in golf. It also often means victory as Justin Rose showcased Monday. After a late equipment change, Rose was the only player in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am to post four rounds in the 60s.
The 69-69-65-66 efforts provided the 2013 U.S. Open with his 11th PGA Tour title. Rose also one-putted the first six of the nine holes he played in the weather-delayed final round at Pebble Beach Golf Links.
A lack of consistency is what prompted Rose's winless four seasons.
Albeit for short stints, Rose has been to the world's No. 1 player several times and is now No. 71.
“I think just not feeling like I've been hitting solid golf shots,” said Rose of his low ranking. “It's actually the feeling of how I've played. That's been the frustrating part.” But the positive after this week? “The result side I've kind of, I feel like I've achieved enough in the game where I don't strive for being back to No. 1 in the world,” Rose said. “My only goal is to really play well enough where I feel like I can win majors.
“I just want to keep working on my game to the level where I feel like if I have a good week and I play well like I got a chance to win a major.”
Not Jordan's year
The consecutive playing streak at the AT&T is now 11 years for Jordan Spieth. But this was the 13-time PGA Tour titlist's poorest showing.
The 2017 tournament winner opened with a 71 at Spyglass Hill on Thursday, followed with a 68 at Monterey Peninsula Country Club and then had a 75 at the twoday third round at Pebble Beach.
Spieth, who was recently diagnosed with Clostridium difficile, a form of colitis, unraveled in the fourth round. Beginning on the back nine Sunday at Pebble Beach, Spieth birdied the 10th,
his opening hole. But he bogeyed the 12th and 13th and double-bogeyed the 14th. Spieth finished with a 1 over 73 and even par for the event.
Entering the tournament for this week, Spieth was a cumulative 102 under par, the best among the event's active players. Besides his win, Spieth finished second in 2022, tied for third in 2021 and has four other top-10 finishes. Prior to Monday's finish, Spieth's previous lowest finish was a tie for 45th in 2019.
Denny McCarthy, Mr. 29
For the seventh time in the past five seasons, the AT&T's third-place tie finisher posted a 29 for nine holes. It's the most on the PGA Tour. Denny McCarthy, who finished at 14 under, also posted 10 birdies in Sunday's round for a career-best third time.