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 Britain's Rose sank a 15-foot bogey putt at the final regulation
hole before parring it a few minutes later to edge unheralded
American Shawn Stefani in Bethesda.
Rose and Stefani each shot 70 to finish regulation at four-under-par
280 on a course that played much tougher than when it hosted the
U.S. Open three years ago, due to firm and fast conditions and
plenty of lush rough.
"I think Congressional got its reputation back after the U.S. Open,"
Rose, whose 72-hole score was 12 strokes higher than Rory McIlroy
carded to win the Open, told CBS television.
Rose, 33, collected $1.170 million for his sixth PGA Tour victory,
and his second in this event, with his previous triumph coming in
2010 at another classic course, Aronimink near Philadelphia.
He also has won six times internationally.
"It's great to win on a course like this because you can't luck into
it," said the 2013 U.S. Open champion.
"I had to rely on different parts of my game all week. I was really
pleased to see the PGA Tour set it up tough. It was fair but you had
to play good strategic golf.
"It hasn't been lost on me that I haven't won for a year. It's a
huge boost confidence-wise for sure going into a major
championship."
Rose stumbled at the end of regulation. He sank an eight-foot putt
to save par at the 17th hole and then got up-and-down from 30 yards
for bogey at the par-four 18th after pulling his second shot from
the rough into the pond guarding the left side of the green.
But Stefani, ranked 246th in the world, found the same watery grave
in the playoff and could not do better than double bogey, handing
Rose the tournament.
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Stefani earned a consolation prize of a berth in the July 17-20
British Open, as did fellow Americans Charley Hoffman, Ben Martin
and Brendan Steele.
Overnight leader Patrick Reed's reputation as a good frontrunner
took a battering when he shot 77 to finish four strokes behind.
He had won the previous three times when he led after 54 holes.
Five players were tied late on the front nine before Rose and
Stefani emerged from the pack to finish one stroke better than
Hoffman and Martin.
Reed was not the only contender to struggle. South Korean Noh
Seung-Yul started the day equal second, but had a back nine
meltdown, limping home in 43 strokes for a 79.
(Reporting By Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina, Editing by Greg
Stutchbury)
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