Justin Rose lifts lid on Phil Mickelson role in his thrilling FedEx playoff win
Justin Rose revealed he is inspired to keep winning by Phil Mickelson claiming the US PGA aged 50 after becoming the oldest ever European winner on the PGA Tour. And the new world No.9's 'golden summer' is now guaranteed to continue to a seventh Ryder Cup appearance at Bethpage Black in September.
Rose, now 45, first found fame as a 17-year-old qualifier at the 1998 Open when he chipped in at the last to finish tied fourth. And the 2013 US Open champion is still producing stunning finishes as he birdied five of his last eight holes at the FedEx St Jude Championships - including the last two of a three-hole playoff - to beat JJ Spaun.
Rose's first win in over two years comes after finishing runner-up at the Open at Royal Troon last year - where he had to qualify ranked world No.67 - and lost a playoff to Rory McIlroy at the Masters in April. But losing weight on a Novak Djokovic-style gluten-free diet has given him a new hunger to succeed.
And the 2016 Olympic champion insisted he is still capable of producing the form which took him to world No.1 as he became the first player over 40 to win on the PGA Tour this season.
'There's a lot of sense of pride in that,' said Rose. 'There's a pretty short list of guys that are competitive in that 45 to 50 sort of age range. Historically it was a bit of a waiting room for the Champions Tour.
'Obviously Phil bucked the trend; he won a major at 51 (the 2021 US PGA). I feel like that's good motivation. I still feel like there is that golden summer of my career available to me.
"I've been saying for some time now, obviously Augusta, when I bring my best, I know I'm good enough to play and to compete and to now win against the best players in the world. 'This is another really, really, really important signal that I'm on the right track with my game, and actually maybe even getting a little bit better at the moment.
'Will I ever be the best player that I was when I was maybe 2018 No. 1 in the world? I don't know, but I don't have to be as long as I can find it at the key times.'
Playing in the final group with overnight leader Tommy Fleetwood, Rose was three off the lead on the 14th tee before a run of four consecutive birdies for a 67 to finish level with Spaun on 16-under par.
And Rose's second birdie of the playoff on the third hole sealed his 12th PGA Tour title. 'That was an amazing last 90 minutes,' he said. 'Never stop believing.'
US Open winner Spaun had the consolation of sealing his Ryder Cup debut a week before the six US automatic places are finalised after this week's BMW Championships.
But Fleetwood has now gone 162 US PGA events without a win after taking a one-shot lead into the final round and leading by two with three to play.
The world No.13 has recorded a remarkable 14 top-three finishes and 29 finishes in the top five.
'I did a lot of good things today and then right at the end again,' admitted the Everton fan. 'I am getting close. That is the good side of it. I feel like I am getting really close. I managed to get myself ahead on that back nine and then I just didn't do quite enough. I am obviously disappointed. I was right in there with a chance. It is hard to win - there are so many good players and I was next to someone who played unbelievable golf down the stretch there. Yeah, I just didn't get it done.'
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