JUSTIN Rose says he still has hopes of topping the Race to Dubai after taking advantage of a stunning collapse from world number one Dustin Johnson to win the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai.
Rose began the final round on Sunday eight shots behind Johnson and was still six adrift at the turn, but fired five birdies in a back nine of 31 to complete a closing 67, with Johnson slumping to a 77.
At 14 under par, Rose finished two shots ahead of Ryder Cup partner Henrik Stenson, Brooks Koepka and Johnson, who had started the day with a six-shot lead in pursuit of a record third World Golf Championship victory this year.
“It’s unbelievable,” said Rose. “It’s been a long time since I’ve won, or at least it feels like that. I’ve won every year since 2010, if you include the Olympics last year. I’ve left it late this year but it feels amazing.
“I think today was the kind of day that the leader probably didn’t want. You want a six-shot lead any time, but this is the kind of day where that kind of swing is possible.
“It was really tricky out there and obviously I played one of the best back nines I’ve played in forever.
“To shoot 31 on the back to come through, I saved my best till last.”
Rose’s 10th European Tour title lifts him to third in the Race to Dubai with three events remaining, albeit still more than a million points behind leader Tommy Fleetwood, who finished in a tie for 20th after a closing 74.
“It kind of gives me a realistic chance now, if I was to have a special end to the season with Turkey and Dubai,” added Rose, who topped the money list in 2007.
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