England’s Justin Rose won the WGC-Cadillac Championship on Sunday by one stroke from American Bubba Watson after former world No. 1 Tiger Woods set off alarm bells by withdrawing mid-round with injury.
The composed Rose shot a final round 70 to finish at 16-under-par, while Watson, who had led by three at the start of the day, ended at 15-under after closing with a 74.
Watson missed an eight-foot birdie putt on the last hole that would have forced a playoff, but the left-handed American ultimately paid the price for four bogeys on the front nine.
Photo: AFP
Rose, who had played smart and tidy golf all week, offered a glimmer of hope to his rival when he bogeyed the 18th after driving into the rough and then launched his approach over the back of the green.
The victory was the first in a WGC event for Rose and could move him into the top 10 when the next edition of the world rankings are released.
World No. 1 Rory McIlroy had put himself in the frame with an eagle on the par-five 12th, but needed a birdie on the 18th to really put the pressure on Rose.
However, the Northern Irishman’s bogey left him two shots back in third place after carding 67 for the round.
After shooting a 73 and 69 in his first two outings this week, McIlroy continued his impressive run of finishes following his victory in the Honda Classic last week.
There was drama midway through the round when Woods, clearly in discomfort, withdrew on the 12th hole with an Achilles tendon injury, prompting concern about his fitness for next month’s Masters.
Woods was three-over-par for the day and seemingly out of contention to win the tournament when he abruptly called it quits, returning to the car park and then driving himself off the course.
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