DJ blows big lead, Rose wins in Shanghai

Justin Rose certainly didn’t expect to be standing there with the trophy after the WGC-HSBC Champions.

The Englishman took advantage of Dustin Johnson’s epic collapse, shooting 5-under-par 67 in the final round to win by two strokes over Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Henrik Stenson of Sweden in windy conditions at Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai, China.

“The beginning of the day, I was playing for second,” said Rose, who came from eight shots behind to claim his second title in the World Golf Championships, also winning the 2012 WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral.

“It’s the kind of day you certainly don’t expect. It’s the kind of a day you hope for, dream for, but a lot of things need to go your way in order for a day like today to happen, coming from eight shots behind, especially going against a player like DJ.”

Rose, who won the gold medal at the Olympics last year, claimed his eighth PGA Tour title and first since the 2015 Zurich Classic of New Orleans by collecting five birdies on the back nine to finish at 14-under-274.

The top-ranked Johnson, who took a six-stroke lead into the final round, didn’t make a birdie in a 77, the final indignity coming when he reached the 18th hole with a chance to tie Rose and force a playoff with an eagle.

However, he hit his approach shot into the water behind the green and was fortunate to salvage a par.

“I just could never get anything going and didn’t hole any putts,” said Johnson, whose round was reminiscent of the 82 he posted when he took a three-stroke lead into the final round of the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. “It was pretty simple.”

Koepka, the U.S. Open champion who closed with a 71, and Stenson, who finished with a 70, both were tied for the lead at times on the back nine while playing in the final threesome alongside Johnson, but Rose roared right past all of them.

Rafa Cabrera Bello of Spain, Peter Uihlein and Kyle Stanley all shot 72 and wound up six shots back in a tie for fifth, while Brian Harman was another stroke back in eighth after a 74, and Bernd Wiesberger of Austria totaled 71 to finish eight back in a tie for ninth with Matthew Fitzpatrick of England, who came in at 73.

Defending champion Hideki Matsuyama of Japan closed with a 72 and tied for 50th.

For complete results, visit https://www.pgatour.com/competition/2018/wgc-hsbc-champions/leaderboard.html.

 

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