Rose Defeats Westwood to Scoop £938,000 Golf Final Win

Justin Rose prevailed in the all-English inaugural World Golf Final against Lee Westwood by one-shot at Antalya.

Having overcome Tiger Woods to reach the final, Rose made a five-under 66, to beat his fellow Ryder Cup colleague Westwood by one shot in a thrilling final.

Westwood had cut the gap to one shot with two holes to play, but a decisive 17ft birdie on the 17<sup>th ensured Rose could par the final hole and claim the title in Turkey in the tournament's maiden year, and along with it a cool £938,000 winner's cheque.

"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 said.

"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 courses are great, the weather has been fantastic and the crowds have been amazing," Rose said of the experience.

"I'd like to think I'm getting there [a major]. I think I can become a more prolific winner in future, and hopefully majors can become a part of that."

The Worksop born Westwood had already defeated Charl Schwartzel in emphatic fashion in the semi-final to set up a meeting between two of Europe's heroes from their Ryder Cup victory in Medinah a fortnight ago.

But it was Rose, who won the WGC Cadillac Championship earlier this year, who hit the front with brides at the 1st, following a 25ft putt, and the 3<sup>rd.

It was Westwood's own putter which was letting him down as he went in pursuit of Rose, as he missed an eagle putt after a delightful approach, and then missed the chance to halve his opponents' lead on the back nine.

He was able to get his putting together to birdie the 16<sup>th to cut the lead to one-shot, but Rose came back to all but seal the title, with a brilliant 17ft putt to birdie the 17<sup>th and lead by two shots going down the last.

And Rose, who had earlier seen Westwood birdie the 18<sup>th, kept his cool to win by one-shot and claim the inaugural title against his English rival.

The victory continues one of Rose's best seasons in recent years having finished second at the BMW PGA Championship, eighth at The Masters and third in the USPGA Championship.

Westwood has enjoyed a similarly impressive 2012, having won the Nordea Masters and attained impressive finishes at the Masters and the US Open.