Justin Rose won the Fort Worth Invitational to claim his ninth PGA Tour title and match Nick Faldo for the most career wins in America by an Englishman.
The 37-year-old carded a six-under-par closing round of 64 – to add to earlier rounds of 66, 64 and 66 – to finish with a 20-under total at the par-70 Colonial Country Club and pull three shots clear of nearest challenger Brooks Koepka.
Rose picked up six birdies on the front nine on Sunday, and made further gains at the 11th and 15th, while his bogeys came at the third and the 18th.
The victory is Olympic champion Rose’s fourth global success since November and moves him up to No.3 in the world rankings behind Justin Thomas and Dustin Johnson.
After hitting 57 of the 72 greens at Colonial in regulation during the rounds, Rose described it one of the best ball-striking performances of his career. “The way I won I think is very fitting for a place that’s called Hogan’s Alley,” Rose said, alluding to the club being the one-time home course of Ben Hogan. “If I begin to look at the courses I’ve won at, this definitely strengthens that group even more. I’m very happy that my game has turned up and I’ve been inspired by some of these great venues.”
Rose was scheduled to play at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth this week, but under the PGA Tour’s regulations for membership was not allowed to miss same tournament, in this case the Fort Worth Invitational, more than three times in a row.
Justin Rose’s Winning Bag
Driver:TaylorMade M3 440 (9°)
Fairway Woods: TaylorMade M4 (15°), TaylorMade M3 (19°)
Irons:TaylorMade P790 (4), TaylorMade P730 (5-9)
Wedges:TaylorMade Milled Grind (48°, 52° & 56° and 60° Hi-Toe)
Putter:TaylorMade TP Red Ardmore 2
Ball:TaylorMade TP5