Justin Comes up Roses at Zurich Classic


Justin Rose birdied the final two holes to pull off a one-stroke win in the Zurich Classic. The PGA Tour's $6.9 million event had been delayed by bad weather its first three days, but the weather cleared in New Orleans on Sunday and all 72 holes were completed on schedule.

The 34-year-old ended up alone the top of the leaderboard thanks to rounds of 69, 66, 65 and 66. Because of heavy rains Saturday, there was a nearly six-hour delay. But, in an attempt to conclude the tournament and avoid a Monday finish, officials sent the field back out Saturday evening and they played until darkness.

Because of the drenched golf TPC Louisiana course, the field played lift, clean and place.

Rose handled the multiple suspensions and conditions the best, carding seven birdies in his third round and another six in the last round, including a critical two in his final two holes. His 20-foot birdie on the par-5 closer clinched the victory.

Rose finished at a tournament record-setting 22-under 266, a stroke ahead of Cameron Tringale (65), en route to earning $1.242 million and 500 FedEx Cup points.

"It's an event I've played many times and I've been getting closer and closer," said Rose, who kept up his streak of winning every year since 2010, and his seventh title overall, including the 2013 U.S. Open.

As for his remarkable consistency of wins in six straight years, Rose told Sky Sports, "On my way to the course this morning I was thinking, 2010, 2011, 12, 13, 14, and trying to work it out. Six years in a row is not easy to do and I'm incredibly grateful and proud of that stat."

The British-born Rose, who was raised in South Africa, noted during a greenside interview that he was inspired to press through disappointment after going to a recent Golden State Warriors-New Orleans Pelicans NBA game, in which Warriors' star guard Steph Curry kept shooting despite missing several three-pointers. The Warriors closed out the Pelicans 4-0 in the best-of-seven series Saturday night.

Boo Weekley had a 65 to take third at 268, while another stroke back were Jim Herman (65) and Australia's Jason Day (69). Tied for sixth at 269 were Canada's David Hearn (68) and Daniel Berger (69).

Rounding out the top-10 in a tie for eighth at 271 were Blayne Barber (70), Chesson Hadley (66), Chad Campbell (68) and South Korean Whee Kim, who fired Sunday's low round of 8-under 64.

For complete scoring details, visit http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html.