Late drama at Valderrama as lead changes hands

JUSTIN ROSE COMES THROUGH THREE-MAN PLAY-OFF TO WIN

VOLVO MASTERS AND

EURO ORDER OF MERIT

Well, we said in our report yesterday that it was written in the stars that, come what may, Justin Rose (pictured right) was going to win the Volvo Masters and the European Order of Merit for the Harry Vardon Trophy at Valderrama today.

And so it proved.

Rose even survived a late, late wobble - a double-bogey 7 and two bogeys - and came through a three-man play-off to claim the double whammy prize that was destined to be his from the moment he had a hole in one of the opening day.
Four strokes clear with eight holes to play, Rose had to come through two holes of a play-off with Simon Dyson and Soren Kjeldsen for a notable double.
The 27-year-old spilled four shots, two of them at one hole, as the pressure built on the back nine but he kept his cool to claim victory on the second play-off hole.
Rose's shaky back nine had given Padraig Harrington a chance to keep his money list crown, but the Dubliner's fourth place finish was not enough.
Things hotted up down the straight when Graeme McDowell made an albatross 2 on the long 17th to tie for the lead on the overall scoreboard, while playing partner Kjeldsen then birdied the hole to go ahead on his own at two under.
He then bogeyed the last and McDowell double-bogeyed it and when Rose and Dyson birdied the 17th they were out in front at two under.
But neither could make par at the last and so they went into sudden death on one under par 283. That's how difficult at course Valderrama can be. In a field of the season's elite the best they could produce was three men at one under par after 72 holes. That is a tribute to the course, not a criticism of the players.
Rose, Kjeldsen and Dyson all parred the first extra hole, but Rose then made a 15-footer on the next and won when Dyson missed from 12ft.

European No 1. Not bad for a young man who missed the cut in his first 22 tournaments as a professional after finishing fourth in the Open of 1998 as an amateur.

Without a doubt, for sheer golfing seesaw drama on the final day, the 20th Volvo Masters was the best.

WHAT THEY SAID AFTERWARDS

JUSTIN ROSE:

It is a relief, I don't think there is an easy way of doing it. It was terrible. I made a couple of mental errors. I told myself to keep grinding out, though. On the 16th it looked dire when I was 50ft from the flag. Two putts there were the key to hanging on. I could have lost everything, the Order of Merit as well as the tournament.
Just getting into a play-off would not have been consolation; I want to win tournaments.

The key to it (winning the Order of Merit has been my consistency, with a win last year and three second places this year.
It wasn't a goal earlier but when I finished second in the WGC - Bridgestone Invitational, I began to realise it was possible and this is now an amazing icing on the cake."

PADRAIG HARRINGTON

It was a chance (to win the Order of Merit) lost. I putted terribly. If Justin had finished five under par, I wouldn't be so disappointed but the winning score - one under par - was achievable. I just wasn't in the zone and I wasn't focussed. It was hard work all day.

SIMON DYSON

I played great. This isn't one of my favourite courses, to be honest, but it shows my mental strength. It was a good week.

SOREN KJELDSEN

I was obviously disappointed not to make par on the last but it's been fantastic this week. I've had a wonderful time.

GRAEME McDOWELL

Effectively, I finished the equivalent of birdie-par and in the circumstances I would have taken that (He finished albatross-double bogey).
It was one of these magic moment that happen in golf. It was an unbelievable feeling to get an albatross on the Sunday of the Volvo Masters at Valderrama. I had to try to calm myself down on the 18th tee but it wasn't easy and I hit a bad shot."