Golf: Rose keeps his cool to secure 1-shot win

Justin Rose. Photo / Getty Images

NEWTOWN SQUARE - Justin Rose lost another big lead but this time he didn't lose the tournament, holding on for a one-shot victory in the AT&T National yesterday.

Rose led by five shots at the turn, finished with seven straight pars and closed with an even 70 to take his second US PGA Tour title in his past three events.

It would have been three straight wins for the 29-year-old Englishman except for his collapse last week at the Travelers Championship when he blew a three-shot lead in the final round with a 75, and he was determined not to let that happen again.

Rose had to sweat it on a steamy afternoon at Aronimink.

He had three-putt bogeys on the 10th and 11th holes - after having gone 274 consecutive holes without one on the PGA Tour - and suddenly his lead was down to two. Then came a furious charge from Ryan Moore, who one-putted his last eight greens for a 65 to close within one shot.

Rose calmly rolled in a 76cm par putt on the last hole for the victory.

"I was a little worried about today based on last Sunday," Rose said. "I just tried to stay within my rhythm. I probably made it closer than it needed to be."

Tiger Woods wasn't close at all. The defending champion shot a 1-over 71, marking the first time in 11 years that he didn't break par over four rounds in a regular PGA Tour event. He wound up 14 shots behind Rose, the most Woods has finished out of the lead since the 2006 Players Championship.

The consolation prize for Moore, who finished second, was a trip to St Andrews for the British Open.

Rose earned a spot in the British Open through a special money list, with Bubba Watson, who did not play this week. Another spot was available for the leading player not already eligible among the top five at the AT&T National. Moore wound up winning that little battle over Jeff Overton, who shot 67 to finish third; and Charlie Wi, who shot 69 to finish fourth.

It didn't appear to be much of a finish when Rose hit a fairway iron from 240m up the hill on the par-5 ninth, on to the green and to tap-in range for an eagle, giving him a five-shot lead.

But it suddenly became uncomfortable for the Englishman.

From 10m below a ridge on the 10th, Rose left it 2m short and three-putted for bogey. From 14m below a ridge on the 11th hole, he overcompensated and hammered his putt 3m by, missing that par putt, too.

Rose collected himself, walking slowly to the 12th tee. He hit every green the rest of the way.

When he won the Memorial a month ago by coming from behind, the US Open exemption deadlines had already passed and Rose failed to qualify for Pebble Beach the next day.

"This was my US Open the way the course was set up," Rose said.

He finished at 10-under 270 and earned US$1.08 million ($1.56 million) moving up to No 2 in the FedEx Cup standings behind Ernie Els. He also will crack the top 20 in the world ranking, likely going to No 16.

- AP