Justin Rose made his statement early Sunday at the Fort Worth Invitational.
The 54-hole leader went out and birdied five of his first seven holes to set the tone for his ninth win on the PGA Tour.
By day’s end, Rose shot 64 despite a bogey at the 72nd hole after victory was assured. He finished 20-under par, a shot off the tournament record and three better than Brooks Koepka, who gave Rose his best shot.
Rose and Koepka played together and it was simply a birdie battle between the two U.S. Open winners. Koepka shot 63, and like Rose, bogeyed the final hole. It was a birdie slugfest between the two players in the final group but every time Koepka made birdie, Rose answered.
“I’m delighted with the way I played this week,” Rose quickly pointed out. “The challenge was getting around the course this week,” he said, referring to the high temperatures in Fort Worth that pushed into the 100s.
Rose’s Saturday prediction came true. He said the players chasing him would play well and they did.
Koepka threw 63 at him but had to settle for solo second at 17-under.
Emiliano Grillo shot 64 but all that got him was solo third at 16-under. “I did everything I could out there,” Grillo sighed.
Kevin Na went lower than anyone. He nearly holed his final approach at the 18th and tapped in from two feet to tie the course record with 61.
Rose was inspired by Colonial’s Wall Of Champions to the right of the first tee. “To have your name on that wall by the first tee is very special,” he said.
Rose put on a virtual ball-striking clinic, hitting fairways and greens right out of the box. He birdied the first two holes then got four more at five, six, seven and nine to make the turn in 30 and basically slam the door on anyone who had thoughts of chasing him down, Koepka included.
Rose knows the U.S. Open is just three weeks away and is confident.
“I feel like I still have upside,” he said. “There’s still more work to be done.”
