20th Sep 2011 | Tour Championship
Tour Championship Golf Tips: Justin Rose
In his element around the traditional style, Donald Ross courses. Winner last week and at the top of his game.
As our Golf Outsider mentioned last week, when Justin Rose gets hot he tends to stay hot, one of many reasons to have him on side this week. With a win and a T6 in the last three tournaments, Rose has hit form at the perfect time. Sitting third in the FedEx Cup standings could prove a distraction but considering he came into the playoffs ranked 42nd, reaching the Tour Championship itself is a bonus.
A return to a Donald Ross designed course is also in the Englishman’s favour. His record on such courses reads: T11-T9-T5-1-T15-T15. His worst finish is T15 and this accounts for every Ross designed course he has ever played on the PGA Tour. Amongst those results is a T9 at the PGA Championship at Oakland Hills and two visits to East Lake for the Tour Championship.
At the BMW last week Rose struck the ball beautifully, ranking 4th for driving accuracy and 3rd for GIRs, elements that need to be working to make a good score at East Lake. Most impressive of all was Rose’s ability to handle the pressure down the stretch. In difficult conditions he held off the charge of John Senden with tenacity and no little skill.
At 20/1 with William Hill he looks cracking each way value with ¼ odds for a top four finish.
Odds correct at time of publishing: 14:30 20th Sep, 2011 but subject to change
