Sam Torrance: World No1 Justin Rose is looking good for the Majors after underlining his class with Farmers Insurance Open win
What a start to 2019 for Justin Rose.
The Englishman beat a strong field to win the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines yesterday and cement his position as world No1.
Starting the final round with a three-shot lead, Rose shot three bogeys in the opening five holes to really put pressure on himself.
His advantage had disappeared and the scrutiny was on but he recovered brilliantly, playing the final 12 holes in five-under to hold off Adam Scott.
If that wasn’t impressive enough there were other factors which made his victory even sweeter.
Rose’s quality was underlined by the fact he was playing with new equipment for only the second time. Although they’re built exactly to his specification and he would have put in lots of groundwork it’s not easy to adapt.
Getting used to new drivers and wedges can be tricky, but when you have a swing like Rose’s it clearly isn’t a problem all.
Phil Mickelson changed clubs before the 2004 Ryder Cup and it took him time to adjust, but Rose was straight to the top of the leaderboard, showing just why he’s world No1.
His 10th win on the PGA Tour took Rose past Sir Nick Faldo to become the most successful Englishman in tour history, which is another feather in his cap.
Faldo is the country’s greatest ever player, so to surpass him aged 38, while still in the prime of his career, is a marvellous achievement. There’s still lots more to come.
All change
Rose was also playing with a new caddie in San Diego, with his usual sidekick Mark Fulcher recovering from heart surgery.
He dedicated his win to Fulcher, so the change might have even have spurred him on, but it’s a huge difference – much more so than new clubs, because you don’t get to practice with a caddie.
A big part of the caddie’s job is placating, lifting, lowering and generally looking after his player’s demeanour during the pressure situations and when things are going wrong.
Rose and Fulcher will have developed a way of coping with it, so trying to establish such a relationship with someone new is not always easy.
Luckily he had Gareth Lord step in, who he knows well from working with his good friend Henrik Stenson.
Rose himself pointed out that it was his first win in the month of January since 2002. He must have enjoyed a great Christmas, because he’s come out firing at his first event of the year from his exalted position.
He’s looking great for the Majors, which are front-loaded into the first seven months of 2019.
The changed schedule makes it a whole different ball game, which is fantastic for someone like Rose, who is in excellent form.
I think it could help someone to do a grand slam, because while it’s difficult to maintain form over an entire year, you can hold a run together over a shorter period.
What an exciting time it is to be sitting top of the rankings.