Justin Rose admits final putt in Turkey evoked memories of Masters
Sunday 5 November 2017 17:30, UK
Justin Rose revealed his mind wandered back to the 72nd hole at Augusta National as he stood over his 10-foot putt on the final green at the Turkish Airlines Open.
Rose was tied for the lead with Sergio Garcia when he had a putt of similar length on the 18th at the Masters in April, but the birdie attempt shaved the right edge of the cup, although he received a lifeline when the Spaniard missed from six feet before going on to win his first major with a birdie at the first play-off hole.
That disappointment was at the back of Rose's mind in Antalya after he hit a sweet approach to 10 feet with playing partner and co-leader Nicolas Colsaerts already just eight feet away from the pin in two.
But Rose's putting stroke held up as he rolled a confident putt into the centre of the cup, and victory was all-but assured moments later when Colsaerts failed to follow him in.
When asked about the comparisons with Augusta, Rose said: "You're going to have putts that miss and you're going to have putts that are going to go in and you're going to win and you're going to lose.
"The overriding thing as a player is that you have to commit to your process. You can't let the situation dictate how you hit the putt, you have to go through your routine and you have to commit and hit a positive putt. Having to make a putt by trying too hard to make it is often not the best way of making it. It's kind of trying to be free.
"I thought I did a good job on 18th hole at Augusta because I was very aware of the magnitude of the situation, and I've promised myself that I would just hit a good, free putt and I did that. But I felt like I at least ran my process pretty well and I did the same today.
"It was nice that it went in. It was an easier putt, but to be fair this was straight up the hill. It was the dream putt you would like and it was classic match play, which is why it reminded me of the 18th at the Masters.
"I don't look back at the putt at Augusta negatively. It didn't go in, and that was disappointing, but I couldn't change much more about the execution part. I hit my putt on my line and it kind of touched the high side as it went by.
"Did I over-aim it? Did I over-read it? I'm sure I did one of those things, but I felt like, in the moment, I hit a good putt and I committed to it. It wasn't like I peaked or I steered it or I did something like that. It was a good putt.
"So I just encouraged myself to do the same thing in this situation, and as a player, that's all you can do. Not every putt goes in, and the stats from 10 feet are less than 50/50. So you just need to be free enough in the moment to make sure you hit a good putt and increase your chances of making it, really."
Colsaerts, meanwhile, was happy just to be in contention and insisted he had "no regrets" despite having come so close to winning his first European Tour title since 2012.
The Belgian, a Ryder Cup team-mate of Rose in the memorable "Miracle at Medinah" contest five years ago, made three straight birdies from the 15th to keep pace with the Englishman only to misjudge the amount of break on his attempt at four birdies in a row.
He said: "I knew I was running hot, and I hit an unbelievable five-iron that never left the pin, exactly how I wanted it. I didn't think the putt was going to move that much. I could have been a little more aggressive with it, but I still feel like I gave it a good try.
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"It's been a while since I was able to put the foot down until the end like that which is great, on holes that do require very good shots and pins that were pretty difficult to get to. So I'm very satisfied with the way I handled the last couple holes, which gave me the opportunity to have a chance on 18. It's a little sour but I have no regrets."
