Golf - Rose breaks drought with Australian Masters title

(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-11-26 14:59

MELBOURNE - Britain's Justin Rose won his first European Tour event for four years with a two-shot triumph in the Australian Masters at Huntingdale on Sunday.

The 26-year-old Englishman broke a title drought dating back to the 2002 British Masters by firing a final round one-over 73 to finish on 12-under-par 276, two ahead of Australia's Richard Green and Greg Chalmers in the event co-sanctioned with the Australasian Tour.

They finished on 10-under, one ahead of Australian amateur Aaron Pike and two clear of compatriot Aaron Baddeley, who was on his own in fifth after a closing 71.

Rose had surged three clear of the field at 14-under before he struck a disastrous triple-bogey eight at the par five seventh to bring him back to the field.

He was joined in the lead by Pike on 11-under when the burly Aussie holed his bunker shot for eagle at the par-five 14th, but birdies at 14 and 16 gave Rose breathing space.

He took an iron for safety at the 18th but found trouble on the right but a brilliant recovery allowed the Briton to par and secure his third European Tour title.



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