Finally! Rose gets the monkey off his back and returns to No. 1
What happened at the Turkish Airlines Open?
It was an incredible finish at Regnum Carya. Haotong Li had taken a three-shot lead into the final round, only to stutter his way through Sunday. Justin Rose had pegged back the deficit by the time the playing partners reached the 15th tee, but could only watch on as his Chinese opponent drained an eagle 3.
Rose birdied 16 to regain the lead, before he gave the shot back at the next hole. Both at 18-under on the final hole and both players missed putts from inside six feet for the win.
So back for another go at the 18th and both players found the dance floor in two with makeable putts for victory, only for Li to inexplicably three-putt from 15 feet and hand the title to the Englishman.
Talking Point
When Li’s third and final putt of the opening play-off hole drifted wide, the camera cut to our champion. Rose exhaled, the relief clear for all to see.
This is a player who is a major champion, an Olympic gold medallist, one of just 23 players to reach World No. 1, and now a 21-time European and PGA Tour champion.
He can now add successful defending champion to his impossibly impressive CV.
And with it, he regains the top spot in the rankings from Brooks Koepka, whose reign lasted just two weeks.
The best golfer of the week.
The best golfer in the world. pic.twitter.com/QFDY7nqK6r
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 4, 2018
There can be little denying Rose has been if not the best player but certainly the most consistent of 2018.
Rose is a quite ridiculous 70-under-par for his last 24 competitive rounds, and has finished outside the top 20 just twice on the European Tour this season, including seven top 10s.
The 38-year-old will be gutted there aren’t any majors right around the corner, but if the TaylorMade man can continue anything close to this form in 2019, he’ll be among the favourites to add to his single US Open victory from 2013.
Best stats
Since the '17 FedExCup Playoffs began, Justin Rose has nearly as many wins (5) as finishes outside the top-10 worldwide (7). 24 top-10s in 31 starts.
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGC) November 4, 2018
.@JustinRose99 – from the beginning of the FedExCup Playoffs through the end of the calendar year in 2017 & 2018:
17 starts
16 top 10s
4 wins
68.0 scoring average— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGC) November 4, 2018
Best quote
"It's a huge milestone"
Rose on defending for the first time. pic.twitter.com/E8PFGaB8Zp
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 4, 2018
Highlights
HE'S DONE IT ?
Back-to-back in Turkey
Back to World Number one#TurkishAirlinesOpen #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/QyciTih7yc— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 4, 2018
Rose. ✅
Li. ✅Fairway found. #TurkishAirlinesOpenpic.twitter.com/NcHcHYSLb0
— National Club Golfer (@NCGMagazine) November 4, 2018
Rose ? Li.
There have only been 4 birdies on the 18th hole today. Who wins?#TurkishAirlinesOpenpic.twitter.com/YVTq3YY6Wx
— National Club Golfer (@NCGMagazine) November 4, 2018
Back to the 18th hole pic.twitter.com/k3tAtzVQKt
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 4, 2018
? Oof! Bogey-bogey finish for Justin Rose at the Turkish Airlines Open and we're going to extra holes…
Leaderboard ➡️ https://t.co/FBGJU1eWdi pic.twitter.com/cvvI3HRYKT
— National Club Golfer (@NCGMagazine) November 4, 2018
Both players had putts for par on the 72nd hole#TurkishAirlinesOpen #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/snx5if94OV
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 4, 2018
He birdied last year to win.
Can he do the same again? pic.twitter.com/CkVsSJLAd0
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 4, 2018
You can stop looking…
We've just witnessed the best up-and-down of the year!#TurkishAirlinesOpen #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/tz1sEvJb7K
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 4, 2018
1-UP, two to play.#TurkishAirlinesOpen #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/Kta3x6o387
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 4, 2018
Haotong ? Rose
Quality everywhere.#TurkishAirlinesOpen #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/QrZNhzk24d
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 4, 2018
"COME ON, BE GOOD!"
It was better than good ? pic.twitter.com/B5hcFTdkZX
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 4, 2018
Doubling his lead…#TurkishAirlinesOpen #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/o7nid7CIKx
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 4, 2018
Think they're enjoying themselves? pic.twitter.com/3dyx0IOdEY
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 4, 2018
"Only way to stop this is to hit the pin"
So he did… pic.twitter.com/Z54CAoDa59
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 4, 2018
Toughest hole. Not for Rose!
Co-leader.#TurkishAirlinesOpen #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/G8TIxiNz1T
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 4, 2018
When you know you've flushed it…. pic.twitter.com/bxiyXMG5or
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 4, 2018
Haotong maintains a one-shot lead.
Just…. pic.twitter.com/iUFJ24acjQ
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 4, 2018
"That is a monster tee shot!" ?
Yup, 344 yards. pic.twitter.com/Zs8un0Tj3i
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 4, 2018
Mid-round interview with @JustinRose99 ?#TurkishAirlinesOpen #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/YI2p6GoLT6
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 4, 2018
The final group gets underway.#TurkishAirlinesOpen #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/toY7nnYDIE
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 4, 2018
Justin Rose rips it. ?pic.twitter.com/h2oerGZ13X
— National Club Golfer (@NCGMagazine) November 2, 2018
Nice guys finish first: How Rose blossomed into the world’s best
Final Turkish Airlines Open leaderboard
Alex Perry
Alex has been the editor of National Club Golfer since 2017. A Devonian who enjoys wittering on about his south west roots, Alex moved north to join NCG after more than a decade in London, the last five of which were with ESPN. Away from golf, Alex follows Torquay United and spends too much time playing his PlayStation or his guitar and not enough time practising his short game.
