Rose cashes in with World Golf Final win

12 Oct 2012, 10:33 pm   -   Source: AAP

Justin Rose has beaten fellow Englishman Lee Westwood by one shot to win the World Golf Final in Turkey.

Justin Rose drew on memories of last month's Ryder Cup singles defeat of Phil Mickelson to overcome fellow England golfer Lee Westwood by one stroke and capture the World Golf Final on Friday.

The world No.5 ranked Rose shot a round of a five-under par 66 to defeat Westwood on the Sultan Course at the Antalya Club in Turkey and claim the $US1.5 million ($A1.47 million) winner's cheque.

Rose was never behind in his match starting with a first hole birdie and then to be three-under par through nine holes and one ahead of Westwood.

Rose then went two ahead with a birdie at 10 and, while Westwood birdied the 16th to get back to one behind Rose, the world No.5 holed a 20-foot putt for birdie at the 17th.

It was a near similar length putt at the 17th at Medinah that turned around his match against US rival Mickelson.

Rose chipped in at the same hole on Thursday to deny Tiger Woods a place in the final of the $US5.2 million ($A5.09 million) event.

"The 17th green has been really good to me this week as I holed my second shot there yesterday and, of course, the 17th at Medinah turned around my match against Phil," said Rose.

"But you have to be pleased to go through this whole week after winning all my five matches.

"So to not get beaten at all in the group stage and then to win the two finals is a great feeling and it's been a great week.

"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."

The prize cheque is Rose's highest in his 14-year pro career and $US560,000 ($A548,400) more than his prize in capturing the 2011 BMW Championship.

Westwood, who was 22-under par for his five rounds and one less than Rose, earned a cheque for $US1 million ($A979,000) for his efforts over the three days.

"We both played well with just the slight difference on the greens," said Westwood, who birdied the 18th.

"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 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."

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