Justin Rose has won the FedEx Cup after a birdie on the last secured him a top five finish at the US PGA Tour’s season-ending Tour Championship.
The Englishman entered the day three shots behind overnight leader Tiger Woods, who survived two late bogeys to finish at 11 under and win his first event since the 2013 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
Two weeks after moving to World Number One, Rose now has the title of US PGA Tour number one to add to his astonishing CV which includes the 2007 European Tour Order of Merit, the 2013 US Open, 2016 Olympic Gold, two World Golf Championships, a Rolex Series victory at last season’s Turkish Airlines Open and four Ryder Cup appearances with two victories.
Rose entered the final event of the American season second in the FedEx Cup standings and despite turning in a one over par 36 on Sunday, he found himself in a commanding position to win the season-long race.
Bogeys on the 11th, 14th and 16th saw him falter, however, and as he stood on the tee at the par five 18th, it was Woods who was projected to take the Cup.
Rose showed nerves of steel up the last, however, finding the green in two and two-putting from 25 feet to finish at six under and continue a remarkable month that could yet bring more glory at next week’s Ryder Cup at Le Golf National.
"I guess it all boiled down to the 18th and I had the swing of the week off the tee there," he said. "I had a jumpy seven iron lie and it caught a break, killed it in the top of the bunker and bobbled on to the green. I was waiting for a break all day and to get it on the last was great timing.
"I felt more pressure as I was throwing it away but when I got back to knowing what I had to do I clicked into gear in the nick of time.”
Woods’ achievement is no less remarkable than Rose’s, with the 14-time Major Champion finding his way back to the winner’s circle just 17 months after a spinal surgery that he feared could stop him ever playing at a high level again.
In emotional scenes at East Lake, fans flooded the final fairway to see Woods claim his victory, with the 42 year old admitting he was struggling to hold back the tears.
"At the beginning of the year [winning] was a tall order, but as the year progressed and I proved that I could play and I found a swing and put pieces together I knew I could do it again," Woods told Golf Channel.
"I was having a hard time not crying on that last hole. After Rory (McIlroy) tapped in. I started tearing up a little bit. I just can't believe I've pulled this off. It's been tough.
"I've had it not so easy the last couple of years and worked my way back and couldn't have done it without the help of everyone around me. Some of the players I saw after on the 18th green knew what I was struggling with and it was really special to see them there.
"It's just hard to believe I've won the Tour Championship."
