Forth Worth Invitational: Justin Rose wins ninth PGA Tour title

Leaderboard

-20 Justin Rose

-17 Brooks Koepka

-16 Emiliano Grillo

-15 Kevin Na

Day four report

Justin Rose claimed his ninth PGA Tour title with a comprehensive three-shot win at the Fort Worth Invitational.

The 37-year-old Englishman carded a six-under-par closing round of 64 to finish with a 20-under total - three clear of nearest challenger Brooks Koepka.

The victory is Olympic champion Rose's fourth global success since November 2017 and will see him move to third in the world rankings; he will also have a chance to become world number one for the first time at next week's Memorial Tournament.

"I'm delighted the way I played this week," Rose said on Sky Sports Golf. "The way I hit the ball this week... I'm a little speechless.

"This is something for me to build on. This week was a big step in the right direction. There's still more work to be done. It's going to be about conserving that energy into the US Open."

Starting the day four ahead of US Open champion Koepka and Argentina's Emiliano Grillo, Rose came racing out the blocks at Colonial Country Club with birdies at the first and second.

Driving into a fairway bunker cost him a bogey at the third, but Rose fired a hat-trick of birdies from the fifth and rolled in a 10-footer at the ninth to turn in 30.

Further gains at the 11th and 14th kept the fast-finishing Koepka at bay, with the American making four birdies on the back nine to sign for a round of 63.

Grillo carded a closing 64 to finish third on 16 under, two ahead of America's Kevin Na, who broke the course record with a 61 which included nine birdies.

Day three report

Justin Rose is 1/4 with Sky Bet to win the Fort Worth Invitational as he takes a four-shot lead into the final round.

The Englishman, who came into the third round with a one-shot lead, strengthened his spot at the top of the leaderboard with a four-under-par round of 66.

That takes him to 14 under overall, four ahead of American Brooks Koepka and Argentinian Emiliano Grillo.

Rose did the majority of his good work on the front nine, firing four birdies and adding another at the 11th.

He dropped a shot at the 16th, just his third bogey of the week, but it was not costly and he will be a firm favourite for a ninth PGA Tour title on Sunday, which would see him equal Sir Nick Faldo's record for an Englishman.

"It was a good day's work," Rose told Sky Sports Golf. "I got off to a dream start and I felt that nobody behind me was doing a lot, so it was up to me to build on that lead. It was difficult coming in, but I did a good job of getting into the clubhouse with a decent lead for tomorrow.

"A four-shot lead is a lot but also not a lot. I have got to go out there and play well, I don't think I can sit back and play golf and put some numbers together."

Koepka fired a three-under-par 67 to remain in contention while Grillo went round in 69.

Spaniard Jon Rahm is one of five men on eight-under-par after his round of 64 and last year's runner-up will have an outside chance of going one better than 2017.

Canadian Corey Connors and American Ted Potter Jr had the rounds of the day as they fired 63s.

Day two report

England's Justin Rose is the 13/8 favourite at Sky Bet after topping the leaderboard with a one-shot lead after firing a six-under 64 on day two of the Fort Worth Invitational in Texas.

Rose had entered the day tied in eighth but the Englishman hit seven birdies - including three in a row on holes 14 to 16 - with a bogey at the par-three eighth the only blemish of his round as he moved to 10 under par overall.

The 37-year-old, hoping for his second tour win this season, told PGA Tour website: "I did a lot of good things today.

"I think the end of my round got a little scrappy, but until the last three holes it was pretty flawless. I think I hit every fairway pretty much and obviously every green to that point.

"Actually, I left a few out there on the greens early but didn't get frustrated. Fooch (Mark Fulcher, Rose's caddie) had a little word with me, just said, 'Hey, mate, just kind of stay patient'.

"That was great advice because I made a little eight, 10-footer which took the lid off the hole, my fifth hole of the day.

"From there got into a nice rhythm, really. The way I played through... I guess through my first 15 holes today was about as good as I've played in a long time."

Argentine Emiliano Grillo, tied in third after day one, was the new second-place man on nine-under overall, a 33ft birdie on the par-three fourth the highlight of his three-under 67 round.

Yesterday's leader Kevin Na dropped to joint sixth after a disappointing round of three-over par, including four bogeys and a double bogey on the par-four 12th.

Scotsman Russell Knox again went round in one-under, while countryman Martin Laird missed the cut, hitting a three-over 73 after a level par 70 on day one.

He was joined by Aaron Wise and Webb Simpson, winners of the last two PGA Tour events, on the same score.

Day one report

The American hit a trio of birdies before the turn and holed the ninth with a superb chip, earning cheers of approval from the crowd as he knocked Charley Hoffman off the top of the leaderboard.

Compatriot Hoffman had temporarily taken first place with a bogey-free round that saw seven birdies, with none of his par putts more than five feet.

Lurking a shot behind Hoffman are Argentine Emiliano Grillo, Venezuelan Jhonattan Vegas and Americans Andrew Putnam and Beau Hossler on six-under.

Our 250/1 selections for the event are in contention with Ben Crane eighth on four-under while Martin Piller is just a shot further back on three-under.

Englishman Justin Rose was four shots off the lead and tied eighth after carding a near-spotless round of 66 that saw back-to-back birdies on holes 11, 12 and 13.

His first time at Fort Worth since 2010, Rose failed to finish in the top 10 in four previous appearances.

The US Open winner was considerably ahead of the next Briton, Scotsman Russell Knox who went round one-under to tie 44th, while countryman Martin Laird hit a level par 70 that saw five birdies wiped out by five bogeys, leaving him tied in 61st.

The shot of the day went to Satoshi Kodaira of Japan, who hit an albatross on the first.

But he ended the day with a double-bogey on the ninth, leaving him alongside Rose on four-under.

Related links

• Sky Bet's Fort Worth Invitational odds