Rose wins FedExCup with birdie at final hole at Tour Championship

[September 24, 2018]  (Reuters) - Justin Rose lost the battle but won the war, clinching the FedExCup and the $10 million prize that accompanies it with a birdie at the final hole at the Tour Championship in Atlanta on Sunday.

Tiger Woods won the Tour Championship to end a five-year victory drought and would have claimed the PGA Tour's season-long points race as well if Rose had not birdied the par-five 18th at East Lake.

Rose started the final round in equal second place three shots behind Woods but could only manage a three-over-par 73 to finish equal fourth for the tournament.

"It was a bit of a slow death out there for me today. It was a totally different vibe," said Rose, who two weeks ago ascended to the world number one ranking at age of 38.

"It was the weirdest day. Obviously plan A was to try to win the tournament and plan B was to do enough to win the FedExCup.

"I knew what the scenarios were. It was such a grind. Mid-round I felt I was frittering it away. Not until I felt I had given it away did I calm down and regroup.

"I clicked into a decent gear and got the job done. It wasn't pretty but it was enough."

Justin Rose holds the FedEx Cup after the Tour Championship golf tournament at East Lake Golf Club. John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

The Englishman also extended his congratulations to 42-year-old Woods.

"The world of golf is really proud of you now and super excited about your game," Rose said.

"It's nice for us old guys to get a little moment in the sun."

(Reporting by Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina, editing by Nick Mulvenney)

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