Justin Rose triumphs in play-off to win his sixth PGA Tour title

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/jun/30/justin-rose-wins-play-off-pga-tour

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Justin Rose claimed his sixth PGA Tour title after edging out Shawn Stefani in a play-off to be crowned the Quicken Loans National champion.

Both players shot one-under-par final rounds of 71 at Congressional, although Rose would have won the title outright had he not bogeyed the final hole. The 2013 US Open champion recovered quickly and sealed victory on the first play-off hole – the 18th – as Stefani managed only a double-bogey six after finding the water. It was Rose’s first victory since winning his first major title last year, the US Open.

After Rory McIlroy’s eight-shot winning margin at the same course in 2011, Rose admitted the course had played much harder this time. “I think Congressional wanted its reputation back,” he said. “It tested all of us getting to four under par to win this tournament.”

Trailing the overnight leader, Patrick Reed, by three shots, Rose led by one going down the last but drove into the trees and hit his second into the greenside pond. After a drop the world No10 found the putting surface, then holed a 15ft putt for bogey to go into the play-off.

The Americans Charley Hoffman and Ben Martin ended three under to book their spots at next month’s Open at Royal Liverpool with their compatriot Brendan Steele. Reed slumped to a six-over-par 77 to finish level with the Masters runner-up Jordan Spieth.