Story highlights
Justin Rose won the World Golf Final following a one-stroke victory against Lee Westwood
World. No.5 recorded a round of 66 to claim $1.5million prize
Neither player dropped a single shot in a hard-fought final
Westwood pocketed $1million after finishing second
Justin Rose continued his dream run of form by scooping the $1.5 million prize at the World Golf Final following a dramatic victory over fellow Englishman Lee Westwood.
Rose, ranked No.5 in the world, played a key role in Europe’s incredible Ryder Cup comeback victory last month following his singles win over Phil Mickelson.
Rose shot a five-under-par round of 66 to defeat Westwood, who finished with a 67 following a birdie on the 18th hole at the Antalya Club in Istanbul, Turkey.
Westwood and Rose in big-money showdown
“My golf is just so consistent at the moment and the main thing is that I just don’t have any skeletons in the closet, and I don’t have that loose shot that is plaguing me all the time,” Rose told AFP.
“So all aspects of my game can pull through for me at different times and I feel as though I’ve got something every day to lean on.”
The prize check Rose received at the unsanctioned event was the largest in his 14-year professional career and $560,000 more than he won at the 2011 BMW Championship.
Westwood had produced a magnificent performance in Thursday’s semifinal win over Charl Schwartzel after recording a course record 61.
But world No. 4 Westwood was unable to pull off a repeat, consoling himself with the $1 million runner-up prize.
Woods salvages Turkey hopes as McIlroy set for early flight home
“We both played well with just the slight difference on the greens,” said Westwood.
“Justin rolled some 20 footers, another crucial one at 17, while the longest putt I made was eight or nine feet on 16.
“So I left a lot of chances out there but that is the way it goes.
“I knew before today the he was rolling it well on the greens. He showed that against Phil Mickelson at the Ryder Cup.
“I played him earlier in the week and he shot 66 so I figured I would need somewhere around there. I hit a good shot into the last and put some pressure on, so not too bad.”
