Philadelphia, PA …
Justin Rose has become the golf’s new World No. 1 despite the bitter disappointment of losing a play-off in the rain-affected BMW Championship in suburban Philadelphia.
Rose is the fourth Englishman in the 32-year history of the World Rankings to become the game’s top and comes two years after he was crowned the 2016 Oympic Gold Medal champion.
The 38-yer old Rose displaces American Dustin Johnson who had lead for a total of 181 weeks since February 2015.
Johnson finished the BMW Championship in a share of 24th place to drop to World No. 2.
However, it was a bittersweet reward for Rose, who moved from fourth on the Rankings.
“That was an end goal dream for sure to get to World No. 1,” said Rose.
“Today was all about the process, and there will be next week to win tournaments, but to get to world No. 1 is unbelievable.
“It’s something I can say now in my career I’ve been the best player in the world. I’ve been to the top of the game. That’s definitely some consolation.
“I just wish I could have enjoyed the moment maybe. This just slightly dampens it but tomorrow or the next day, the week after, I’ll look back at this and think it was amazing, an amazing moment in my career.”
The Bahamas-based Rose now joins fellow Englishman Nick Faldo, Lee Westwood and Luke Donald as World No. 1.
Rose had been one shot behind American Keegan Bradley playing the penultimate hole when Bradley bogey the last and just moments before Rose birdied 17.
Rose then did the unimaginable in three-putting the 72nd hole for a bogey in a round of 67 to fall back into a tie at 20-under par with Bradley who had signed for 64.
Rose missed the fairway left and then sent his second shot at the first extra hole, the par-4 18th into a greenside grandstand that ricocheted onto the edge of the green.
Rose then again three-putted the hole for a second time and leaving Bradley two putts from 25-feet for par to win his first event since capturing the 2012 WGC – Bridgestone Invitational.
Bradley has jumped 35 places to become the new World No. 31st ranked player.
Tiger Woods continues his climb up the Rankings having picked-up five places to be the new World No. 21 following his share of sixth at the BMW Championship.
And by virtue of qualifying for the Tour Championship, Woods is now assured in teeing-up in next year’s US Open given his 10-year exemption in capturing the 2008 US Open, and what was Woods last Major success, expired in June.
“I played a few tournaments now where I was close at the end and at the end of the season here to say that I made it back to the Tour Championship after what I’ve been through is a pretty good accomplishment,” said Woods.
“Again, to have a chance to win again, this year, it’s a very positive feeling and I was — made a few more putts this week could have been a different deal coming down the stretch.
“But even though, you know, I finished at 17 and I had three good looks on the last three holes — or two of the last three holes. That’s a positive.”
And Texan Jordan Spieth is staring at a likely $20,000 fine in failing to contest the minimum of 25 Tour events in a season.
Spieth had not been expecting to miss out on the Tour Championship but he has in posting a last round 73 for a distant share BMW share of 55thplace.
The result saw the three-time Major winner drop to 31st and one place outside the leading 30 on the FedEx Cup points table who will tee-up in Atlanta.
The Tour Championship was to be Spieth’s 24th and the Ryder Cup his 25th.
“I assume it will either be a fine or I’m adding some events in the Fall,” said Spieth.
“I don’t know if that counts. I’m not sure. I talked to the Tour a little while back and I didn’t really think much of it.
“If it becomes a situation then, I obviously accept whatever fine it is and move on and try and add one every year but it’s kind of tough.”
