Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – Justin Rose won his 13th career US PGA Tour title on Sunday, setting a 72-hole tournament record to capture the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines by seven strokes. The 45-year-old Englishman became the oldest winner of the event, which dates to 1952, by firing a two-under par 70 in the final round to complete a blowout romp.
“This has been a huge win,” Rose said. “I was aware of the record. I wanted it for personal pride. I was grinding on that. I was aware I had a big lead but I also wanted that for myself. I had my own mini-goals coming down the stretch which really kept me focused.”
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Rose dedicated the victory to his caddie, Mark “Fooch” Fulcher, who missed Rose’s 2019 win at the event. “In 2019 he was in a hospital bed when (Gareth Lord) was strolling up the 18th here with me,” Rose said. “That was one of the best weeks I’ve ever played I thought and I think this week was maybe even more of a clinic from tee to green.”
Rose, the 2013 US Open champion, birdied the par-five sixth and closed the front nine with back-to-back birdies, taking his lone bogey at the 12th and parring in from there. American Pierceson Coody, South Korean Kim Si-woo, and Japan’s Ryo Hisatsune shared third on 272. Germany’s Stephan Jaeger and American Jake Knapp shared fifth on 273.
Five-time major winner Brooks Koepka shared 56th in his first PGA event since returning from a three-year stay in Saudi-backed LIV Golf, shooting 70 on Sunday. “It wasn’t great today. I kind of overdid it,” Koepka said. “A few more hours of practice, it will be nice. Next week greens are pretty good so get out there Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and grind it out.”
Koepka will play in next week’s Phoenix Open. “It will be good,” he said. “I enjoy next week. I love the chaos, I think it’s fun. It has been four years since I’ve been back so I’m excited to get back out there to a place I’m familiar with, comfortable with and a place I love.”
© 2024 AFP
