Justin Rose jokingly warned Scottie Scheffler that he was coming after him after he won the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines with a tournament record score.
The 45-year-old Rose took a six-stroke lead on the final day, the biggest 54-hole advantage in the tournament since Tiger Woods led by eight in 2008 – and nervously turned it into the 13th PGA Tour win of his storied career.
advertisement
The British player made three birdies in the final round of 70, dropping just one stroke, and won with a record score of 23 under, beating the likes of Siu Kim, Ryo Hisatsune and Pearson Coody by seven strokes.
Remarkably, this means Rose is back in third place in the world rankings behind Rory McIlroy and runaway world No. 1 Scheffler. Despite the American’s advantage, he still has more than three times as many points as his veteran opponent.
But the Briton still jokingly hinted that he intends to chase down the reigning British Open and PGA Championship champion.
“3rd in the world rankings after winning the trophy,” Rose wrote on social media. “Scotty, I’m coming for you!!” – followed by two laughing emojis
Rose was understandably delighted with the calm manner in which he saw off the victory at Torrey Pines, and admitted that getting a tournament record score was part of his ambitions on the final day.
advertisement
he said. sky sports After the final round: “Obviously it wasn’t my lowest score today, but it was a good score. I felt like I played well, I felt like I did all the right things and I didn’t feel like I was in any kind of predicament.”
“I never let my guard down. I had other things to play for. To get a tournament record of 23 under. I was acutely aware of that. It was a great week. Everything seemed to be going in that direction. I was setting records with 36, 54 and 72. I just wanted to finish as strong as I could.”
Justin Rose wins Farmers Insurance Open by seven strokes (Image via Reuters Connect)
He celebrated impressive victory in San Diego (Associated Press)
Rose opened with five consecutive pars, then birdied the sixth, eighth, and ninth and almost sealed victory by the turn.
advertisement
He had a bogey on the 12th, the only blemish on his card, and went to the 18th tee with a seven-stroke lead, staying in line until the end, but there was no drama to back up his victory.
There was talk that Rose, a Ryder Cup stalwart for the past 20 years, might be named Team Europe’s captain at Adare Manor in 2027 as they aim for a third consecutive title, but his performances on track instead seem destined to make him a key part of the line-up once again.
At the end of last year, the 45-year-old emphasized his desire to continue as a player, saying, “My captaincy starts not in two years, but in two months or something,” and “I haven’t thought about that yet.”
Rose became a key cog in the European team’s car in the Ryder Cup (Reuters)
The hugely popular Luke Donald, who led Europe to monumental victories on home soil in Rome in 2023 and New York last summer, has admitted that he is unsure at the moment, but it is the unanimous choice of the players to continue as captain.
advertisement
“I talked to some players and everyone I talked to said they wanted me to do it again, which means a lot,” the 48-year-old said in an interview. times Just before Christmas.
“Obviously I’ve thought about it, but I don’t feel like I’m in too much of a hurry. I’m working on what’s going to be good. I feel like I’ve proven enough. It’s a tough job.”
“My eldest daughter is going to be in school for another two and a half years, so I would like to get some time away before she goes to college. I want to understand if I can pick the best player (referring to LIV player eligibility). Should I push my luck? I’m trying to enjoy this game. I’ll think about it seriously in the new year.”
