England’s Justin Rose produced one of the greatest comebacks in golfing history by overcoming an eight-shot deficit to win the WGC-HSBC Champions on Sunday.
The Olympic gold medalist started the day tied for fourth with world number one Dustin Johnson of the United States seemingly in a commanding position as he was six clear at the start of the day.
The day however took a dramatic twist with Johnson struggling to get his game going. Unlike the last three days where he marked his card with a total of 22 birdies, the American failed to get a single birdie on the day which matters most.
Rose was still six back at the turn but fired five birdies for an inward 31 to sign off with a five-under-par 67. The Englishman’s winning total of 14-under-par 274 was enough to give him a two-shot victory over Johnson, Sweden’s Henrik Stenson and Brooks Koepka of the United States, who shared second place.
India’s S.S.P. Chawrasia meanwhile closed with a 72 to take a share of 31st place while Asian Tour Order of Merit leader Gavin Green of Malaysia signed off in tied-38th place after a final round 77.
Did you know?
- Justin Rose’s eight-shot comeback victory is a personal best for the Englishman and is also a World Golf Championships record.
- The largest comeback victory was 10 for Scotland’s Paul Lawrie at the Open Championship in 1999.
- The WGC-HSBC Champions is Justin Rose’s second World Golf Championships title after his earlier victory at the 2012 WGC-Cadillac Championship.
- Rose’s previous best finish at the WGC-HSBC Champions was fifth place in 2013.
- Dustin Johnson was hoping to become the first player to win three World Golf Championships tournaments in a calendar year and the second player after Phil Mickelson to win two WGC-HSBC Champions titles.
Players’ Quotes
Justin Rose (Eng) Fourth round 67 (-5), Total 274 (-14)
It’s unbelievable. Obviously we all know the position DJ was in, and I think today was the kind of day that the leader probably didn’t want — well, you want a six-shot lead any time, but this is the kind of day where that kind of swing is possible. I shot five-under in tough conditions and he had to play good golf to keep it around par today, and obviously he made a few mistakes. It was really tricky out there, and obviously I played one of the best back nines I’ve played in a long time. To shoot 31 on the back to come through, saved my best till last. It’s been a long time since I’ve won, or at least it feels like that. Well, I’ve won every year since 2010, if you include the Olympics last year; that was my only win. This is only win in 2017. I left it late this year but it feels amazing.
Dustin Johnson (Usa) Fourth round 77 (+5), Total 276 (-12)
Well, the conditions were tough today. I felt like I actually drove it pretty well, other than the drive on 2, which I hit a good shot. I don’t even know what happened. It just came up a little bit short. I thought I hit it perfect. But still ended up making a good 6. And even making the turn obviously, I’m 2-over, which is fine. I know I’ve got to just play solid on the back nine. I didn’t make any putts. I felt like I rolled it good. Just nothing was going in the hole. Hit a couple really bad iron shots. That was probably the key there on 14. I just chunked it. Same thing on 15; I just chunked it. That cost me two shots there. And then bogeying 16, that’s just bad. So I just gave a few away. But tough conditions. But I mean, it is what it is. I just could never get anything going and didn’t hole any putts. It was pretty simple.
Brooks Koepka (Usa)
Obviously it was tough. The wind was blowing pretty hard. The short putt, I don’t know if that was a lack of concentration. The wind gusts sometimes in one direction and then it goes in another. You know, it was a little bit disappointing way to finish, but I guess it’s all right. I thought the one on 16, I should have sunk that putt as I felt like I actually hit a really good putt. It just didn’t go in. And then, you know on 18, it’s hard to get there with that wind and actually have a good chance. You know, I hit a good 3-wood in there. I made a decent birdie. But a little disappointed the way I played over the last two days, but that’s fine.
S.S.P. Chawrasia (Ind), Fourth round 72 (Even), Total 287 (-1)
It has been a good experience, playing with the top players. I’ve learnt many things. To be honest, they know how to score. They adopt a different attitude each time they hit a bad shot. For me, I get angry and frustrated with myself. But for them, they don’t care. They just forget about it and get on with their next shot. I’ve got to adopt the same mentality like them.
Gavin Green (Mas) Fourth round 77 (+5), Total 289 (+1)
I got three really good learning weeks. You know, I’m still learning obviously. It was tough out there. I played well a couple of days, two days, and then two days struggled. I think I’ve got to learn to get four good rounds, get at least three good rounds. The rounds that I struggle in cannot be 4, 5, 6 over. It’s got to be around 1-, 2-over, even. It’s just a learning experience for me and I’m glad I got the opportunity to play in such high profile events these past three weeks. I think a lot of it has to do with experience between us and the best players in the world.
