Finally blossoming: Justin Rose heads to the FedEx play-off final in Atlanta among the favourites to bank the $10 million jackpot after the 10th win of his career Photo: GETTY IMAGES Rose heads to the FedEx play-off final in Atlanta among the favourites to bank the $10 million (£6.3 million) jackpot after the 10th win of his career last Sunday.
The BMW Championship was his biggest victory, secured with the help of a holed chip at the penultimate hole, and ends a fallow period of 15 months without a win. “It rates as high as the best tournament I’ve ever won, just by going wire-to-wire,” Rose said. “I think mentally this is the best I’ve ever been in terms of being under control with my emotions. I may have had better ball-striking weeks but I think this week as a competitor and as a professional, is probably my best.”
The win elevated Rose to third in the FedEx standings, a platform that guarantees the $10 million bonus should he repeat his success with a back-to-back victory on Sunday. Any one of the 30 competitors in the Atlanta field is a mathematical contender, but only the top five, which includes Rose’s English compatriot Luke Donald, are certain to finish at the head of the FedEx rankings with a win.
The journey from stellar amateur to FedEx contender has been littered with disappointment and uncertainty for Rose, who leapt to prominence at the 1998 Open Championship at Birkdale, chipping in at the last to claim fourth place. Upon turning pro immediately he missed 21 consecutive cuts and waited four years for his inaugural victory at the Dunhill Championships in 2002.
He had to wait until last June for his first PGA success and when a second came a month later it was thought the rush might be the platform to sustained success. Instead Rose was blighted by inconsistency, as he missed the cut at the final major of the season, the US PGA Championship in Atlanta last month.
“Sometimes playing well seems a mile away,” Rose said “You’re watching Webb Simpson and Chez Reavie coming down the stretch and they’re making putts and hitting great shots and obviously you’re imagining the pressure that they’re under and they’re still able to do that.
“You think, wow, their game must be in such great shape, and then all of a sudden the next week you’re doing the exact same thing. It’s such an important lesson to learn looking back with the benefit of hindsight knowing the next time you’re in that situation it [success] is just a day or a round away.”
Rose’s win propelled him into the world’s top 20 as well as putting him third in the FedEx rankings. Simpson, who started the year 213 in the world rankings, tops the FedEx standings followed by Dustin Johnson, Donald in fourth and Matt Kuchar. A win for any guarantees top spot in the FedEx table and the jackpot.
Tiger Woods, who failed to make the top 125 in the FedEx rankings and thus entry into the play-offs, fell to 49 in the world rankings. On the bright side, by remaining in the world top 50 he secured a spot in the event he hosts, the Chevron Challenge, in December.
The $10m jackpot
The FedEx Cup is the American equivalent of the European Tour’s Race to Dubai with a knock out twist and a $10 million (£6.3 million) jackpot for the winner. Players earn qualifying points throughout the season with the top 125 on the list making the September play-offs. Comprising four events, the play-off field is whittled down to 30 for the climax in Atlanta this week. The players carry points forward with points spread guaranteeing any one of the top-five the $10 million prize should they win.
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