Rose rues costly back-nine errors
Justin Rose was left dreaming of what might have been after coming so close to a famous victory on the European Tour.
Victory at the DP World Tour Championship on Sunday would not only have given the Englishman his third straight win, it would also have seen him clinch the Race to Dubai.
In the end, three bogeys on the back-nine saw Rose fall agonisingly short of glory, with an eagle putt at the last drifting left of the hole to put pay to his chances.
Rose was classy in defeat, however, paying tribute to eventual DP World Tour Championship winner Jon Rahm, as well as Tommy Fleetwood, who held on to clinch the Race to Dubai.
Wasn't my day… 🎩 off to @TommyFleetwood1 on a great year and winning the Race to Dubai, and @JonRahmpga winning today. 🇦🇪 pic.twitter.com/KstA8iB0Tg
— Justin Rose (@JustinRose99) November 19, 2017
"I did hit the wall a bit today," said Rose.
"My front nine was beautiful. I was playing great golf and I felt in complete control, but the bogey at 12 seemed to slow all the momentum. From that point it was a bit of a grind.
"I just feel I went a bit flat around the turn. I had opportunities around 10 and 11 and didn't take those, and I got a little bit out of my routine and a little distracted, hit a poor shot on the par-five and then it was a struggle from there on in. The shots on 13 and 14 were the undoing.
"The other guys seemed to do what they needed to do down the stretch, and I knew Jon was going to be a danger today in terms of the Race to Dubai.
"But I'm pleased for Tommy. He's battled hard all year and put a good week in South Africa last week and had a great couple of comeback rounds this week to fight back and deserve it. He's been leading all year and it's good for him to finish it off."
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