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 Tied for the lead when the delayed third round was completed earlier
on a marathon day at the TPC Louisiana, Rose closed with a flawless
six-under-par 66 on a receptive, rain-softened layout where
preferred lies were permitted throughout the tournament.
The world number nine, a runner-up at this month's Masters, posted a
22-under total of 266, then waited for the last few groups to finish
before he could celebrate his victory.
"It's an event I have played many times and I feel like,
year-on-year, I've been getting closer and closer (to winning)," a
smiling Rose, who is an official ambassador for the tournament
sponsor, told CBS Sports.
"I always joke with the Zurich guys that this is my fifth major. Any
win is sweet but when you get to share it with people that you are
close to, it's fantastic."
Cameron Tringale, one of five players who held at least a share of
the lead in the final round, eagled the par-five seventh on the way
to a 65 and second place at 21 under, ending up a stroke in front of
fellow American Boo Weekley (65).
Australian world number six Jason Day, the highest-ranked player in
the field who shared the 54-hole lead with Rose, signed off with a
69 to tie for fourth at 19 under with American Jim Herman (65).
As expected, the final round turned out to be a slug-fest with
conditions ideal for low scoring.
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Rose edged one stroke clear of a tightly bunched leaderboard with a
timely birdie at the par-three 17th where he struck a five-iron from
210 yards to 10 feet, then coolly sank the putt before pumping his
right fist in celebration.
He then drained a 14-footer to birdie the par-five 18th and punched
his right arm skywards in delight.
"The golf course is yielding birdies ... and when you do miss the
odd birdie putt, you feel like you’re going backwards," said Rose.
"All week, I just kept trying to tell myself to stay patient. I
missed a couple of shortish ones on 11 and 12 ... obviously to make
those putts on the last two greens made up for everything."
(Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Gene
Cherry)
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