JUSTIN ROSE is No. 1 in the golf world again, and this time it feels even more special. He goes home with a trophy.

Rose defeated China’s Li Haotong in the Turkish Open in a sudden-death playoff in which neither player should have been.

The 38-year-old Englishman looked to be cruising to the title with a two-shot lead with four holes to play. However, Li eagled the par-5 15th to draw level before Rose got back in front with a birdie at the 16th to reach 19-under.

Most experts would have bet their mortgages on Rose making regulation pars the last two holes. Perhaps the thought of reaching the top of the world order was on his mind, for Rose inexplicably bogeyed the last two holes to give his younger opponent a chance.

Thankfully for Rose, Li three-putted the 72nd hole when two putts would have given him his second win of the season following the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. Rose was handed the tournament when the pair returned to the 18th in sudden death. The Chinese player had a 10-foot birdie putt to win. He charged his effort 4 feet past, then missed the return par putt to send Rose to World No. 1 for the second time this season.

Li’s US$780,000 check moved him to ninth on the European money list. “A tough day for me honestly,” Li said. “Hopefully next time I can play better.”

(SD-Agencies)