By Nicola Kenton
- Justin Rose becomes world number one for the first time in his career
- The Englishman claimed the top spot after finishing second at the BMW Championship
- Rose lost to America’s Keegan Bradley in a play-off final
NEWTOWN SQUARE, PHILADELPHIA – Justin Rose became world number one for the first time in his career following a second place finish at the BMW Championship.
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Rose achieves boyhood dream
Second place at the BMW Championship was good enough for Justin Rose to become world number one for the first time in his career. The Englishman had an opportunity to achieve the same feat earlier this year but just missed out, as Justin Thomas claimed top spot instead. However, it all came together for Rose at Aronimink despite losing a play-off final to Keegan Bradley.
It is well documented that Rose had a tricky start to his professional golf career, as he missed his first 21 cuts after turning professional and wins were few and far between. However in recent years the Englishman won his first major, the 2013 US Open, as well as gold at the Rio Olympic Games and he has nine PGA Tour wins to his name. Rose also becomes the fourth Englishman to be crowned world number one after Sir Nick Faldo, Lee Westwood and Luke Donald.
We did it Dad…. World Number 1⃣ Thank you so much to my family, friends & everybody that has helped me achieve this incredible goal. Also, my sponsors @TaylorMadeGolf @adidasGolf @Hublot @Mastercard @ZurichNAnews @MorganStanley @LamkinGrips Thank you! #Team🌹 pic.twitter.com/geZgcpTR7U
β Justin Rose (@JustinRose99) 10 September 2018
Speaking of his achievement, Rose told Sky Sports: “To get to world No 1 is unbelievable, and 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, and that’s definitely some consolation. I’d have loved to have got there by winning, but today was fun. It’s boyhood dreams. It’s a dream that we’ve all thought about at some point in our lives or as young aspiring golfers thinking about it. I turned pro at 18 and it took me 20 odd years to get to world No 1, but my advice would be to just dedicate yourself to improving, to learning, to trying to get better. That’s what excites me, but the quest to get better is why I wake up in the morning.”
Second Place at the BMW Championship
Despite claiming number one spot, the weekend was tinged with disappointment for Rose who was unable to secure victory. The Englishman led going into the final round, which was delayed due to a flooded course and postponed until Monday, ahead of Rory McIlroy, Keegan Bradley and Xander Schauffele. Going down the last nine, the lead kept changing hands and it was Rose who was on a charge having made birdies on the 16th and 17th holes.
Bradley scored a bogey on the 18th to drop one shot behind the Englishman while Rose then duly had the chance to win the tournament on the final hole. However, his par putt lipped out and he had to settle for a bogey. In the play-off, both players went back down to the 18th and Rose bogeyed the hole again while the American secured victory with a par. Nevertheless, second place was all Justin Rose needed to achieve his childhood dream and secure the number one ranking.
Speaking straight after the play-off, Rose told Sky Sports: “I’m disappointed right now. To bogey the 72nd hole and to get into a play-off is obviously nothing to be happy about, but the putt I had to win was the best putt I’ve ever hit to try and win a tournament. I thought that thing was in the middle, but it wasn’t to be. But obviously it’s a big consolation being world No 1. That’s something that I will look back on this week and think it was an incredible achievement.”
Final flourish to the end of the season?
Rose has finished second at the last two tournaments, the Dell Technologies Championship and the BMW Championship. These are two of the four tournaments for the FedEx Cup with the final competition taking place next weekend which sees the top 30 take part. Rose heads into the Tour Championship second in the rankings behind American Bryson DeChambeau.
Speaking to Sky Sports about the final FedEx tournament, Β Rose said: “No 2 is an incredible spot to be in, and it’s a week where there are many scenarios in play. When you go in there 15th, 16th or 17th, you know you have to win, and then you have to hope for a ton of other things to happen. But obviously when you’re No 2 and you win, then you win. I’d hate to round off the season with three seconds, but that could be good enough next week, you just never know.”
It could be a very successful few weeks if Rose manages to stay as the world number one and performs well at the Tour Championship. The Englishman will then take to the greens at Le Golf National to try and help Europe regain the Ryder Cup against a very strong Team USA.
The final FedEx Cup play-off, the Tour Championship, takes place on September 20th – 23rd with the Ryder Cup happening the following weekend.
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