US PGA National Victory Blooms for Britain's Justin Rose
US PGA National Victory Blooms for Britain's Justin Rose
Britain's Justin Rose has won for the first time this year since capturing last year's US Open as well. He parred the first playoff hole to eliminate Shawn Stefani from the battle. The 33 year old English player had to contend with American golf pro Stefani for a victory that was hard fought.
Rose finished 72 holes level atop leaderboard on 4 under par 280 after both players shot off one-under 70s.
Rose's ambitions were nearly dealt a deathblow at the last regulation hole when the ball was hit into the trees and the water. He sank a 15 foot bogey putt to stay tied for the lead. When Stefani met with a watery challenge at 18 on the first playoff hole, things looked up.
A Congressional Country Club layout which was also a host for the last 3 US Opens was formidable in many respects. Rory McIlroy won during rainy conditions here in the year 2011. Rose commented on how the Congressional was an extremely testing battleground for getting 4 under par to win the tournament.
The playoffs had their high points as well. Stefani pulled his tee shot left into trees while Rose's tee shot hit in the fairway. Stefani took relief from the temporary immovable obstruction which was a grandstand and moved the ball into the trees again. His approach was sent into the same water towards the left of the green found by Rose earlier.
With a second chance in sight, Rose approached the green and two-putted for par and a stunning victory. He took the $1.1 million winner's prize and he will also take the week off before approaching the Scottish Open. The final challenge of course is the 143rd British Open at Royal Liverpool commencing from July 17.
Rose snagged his first major title last year at Merion. Currently, he has just won what is now his sixth US title. This includes the 2010 National when it played at Aronimink Golf Club close to Philadelphia. Rose displayed a consistency missing in the others. Seeking his fourth PGA title in 10 months, third-round leader Patrick Reed was on a roller coaster that just refused to stop. Rose maintained a steady pace and took a bogey at the third but answered with birdies at the par-5 sixth and ninth holes.
Following a double-bogey disaster at 11, Rose dropped the approach to 5 feet and made the birdie putt to pull within one of the leader. Reed plunked his tee shot into the water at the tricky par-3 tenth. When Rose blasted a fourth shot 15 feet past the cup while making the clutch comeback bogey putt that earned a playoff spot, the others had to be content with their lot.
With such exciting moves on the greens, Rose has earned his victory three time s over. The 33 year old has a lot of challenges ahead of him, but if his earnest determination and quiet consistency are anything to go by, he will be giving contenders a run for their money(and their game) in the upcoming tournaments.
