Rose thanks mentor after chip bags BMW

JUSTIN ROSE paid tribute to former European Tour professional Mark Roe after claiming his third PGA Tour title at the BMW Championship in Illinois.

Rose started the final round with a four-shot lead but had to endure some nervous moments before edging out John Senden by two strokes.

The 31-year-old was fortunate to escape with a six on the par-five 15th after a wayward tee-shot which flew into the trees.

But after a poor approach to the 17th and with his lead down to one, Rose chipped in for birdie to effectively seal the win.

And he admitted that Roe deserved some of the credit after passing on his short-game knowledge since April this year.

“My chipping is better for sure,” Rose said.

“Roey has given me a couple of simple keys and a simple understanding of doing, I guess, what I did as a kid again.

“I think for some reason I got myself in a bit of a mess with my short game, I was way too open to the shot, squared up my shoulders and just....yeah, it’s been a lot better for sure.

“And I think I proved it down the stretch today. I missed a couple of greens and I scrambled pretty nicely when I had to.”

Rose, who climbed to third in the FedEx Cup play-off standings ahead of next week’s Tour Championship, added: “I nearly took the chicken stick out on the 17th and putted it, but I said to myself it was a makeable chip so I had to commit.”

Senden was the model of consistency with birdies on the ninth and 10th his only deviation from par. The Australian finished a shot ahead of countryman Geoff Ogilvy, who carded a closing 69.

World number one Luke Donald ended another impressive week by finishing fourth courtesy of a closing 68 which contained three birdies on the back nine.