Sunday 29 October 2017 22:52, UK
Justin Rose admitted he did not expect Dustin Johnson to let his final-round advantage slip away after claiming a dramatic victory at the WGC-HSBC Champions.
Rose trailed Johnson by eight strokes heading into the final day and was still six adrift at the turn, only to capitalise on the American's final-round 77 and snatch a two-shot win in Shanghai.
The Olympic champion moved up the leaderboard with three birdies in a four-hole stretch from the 11th, before back-to-back gains from the 16th closed a five-under 67 and secured a maiden win of 2017.
"It's the kind of day you certainly don't expect," Johnson said. "It's the kind of day you hope for and dream for, but a lot of things need to go your way in order for a day like today to happen.
"It was the perfect type of weather conditions to make a comeback. This is the type of day, when you are playing with a lead, every hole seems difficult.
"It was one of the best back nines I've played in a long, long time, and to do it at the right time was amazing. I guess everything fell into place.
"At the beginning of the day, I was playing for second, but fortunately I got a little bit of help from DJ (Johnson)."
Johnson required a final-hole eagle to join Rose on 14 under and force a play-off, only to fire his approach into the water on his way to a closing par.
The world No 1 finished tied-second alongside Brooks Koepka and Henrik Stenson, missing out on becoming the first player to win three World Golf Championship events in a calendar year.
"I just could never get anything going and didn't hole any putts," Johnson said. "I felt fine all day.
"I felt like I actually drove it pretty well, other than the drive on two. I knew I had to just play solid on the back nine, but I didn't make any putts."
