Justin Rose blazed to victory with a record tournament score of 23 under par at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines on Sunday.
The Englishman claimed a 13th PGA Tour title in style in San Diego with one of the best tournament performances of his illustrious career, with a wire-to-wire victory.
It was the first time since 1955 that a player had managed that at the tournament and Rose shot the best winning score in the 74-year history of the Farmers Insurance Open across the four days, eclipsing the 22-under achieved by Tiger Woods in 1999 and George Burns in 1987.
"Today, obviously, wasn't my largest score, but it was a good score. I felt like I played well," said Rose. "I felt like I did all the right things. I felt like I didn't sort of get myself in any predicaments.
"I think, when you do have a lead, you want the first change of the scorecard to be a birdie rather than a bogey. I felt like that putt at number four really settled me in and I felt like from that point it was going to be my day.
"But, I never let my guard down. There are other things to play for - to have a tournament record, 23 under, I was keenly aware of that.
"It was an amazing week. You know, everything seemed to be heading in that direction. 36, 54, 72 all scoring records. I just wanted to finish off as strongly as I could."
Having led by six shots heading into Sunday, Rose carded a two-under par 70 for his final round to finish off a week which started in blistering fashion with a 10-under round of 62 on Thursday, to recapture the crown he won in 2019 with a score of 21 under par.
The 45-year-old, who moved to third in the early FedExCup Standings, also almost equalled the previous largest margin of victory for a winner of the tournament, with his seven-shot margin just one shy of the eight shots seven-time champion Woods beat Ryuji Imada by in 2008.
Another Japanese player, Ryo Hisatsune, claimed a share of second place this time. He finished the tournament at 16 under alongside South Korea's Si Woo Kim and the USA's Pierceson Coody.
American Joel Dahmen who started the day in second place on 15 under after matching Rose's four under on Saturday, ended the day in a tie for seventh place after dropping a shot in his final round.
Ireland's Seamus Power birdied the 17th to finish one under on Sunday, and 11 under for the tournament.
Brooks Koepka - playing his first PGA Tour event since returning from LIV Golf - finished in a tie for 56th place, shooting a 70 on Sunday to finish on four under overall.
"I feel like probably don't know about half the guys," Koepka admitted. "In the last four years has been a good bit of turnover so that's the one thing I've taken away.
"There's half the guys I do know, and then the other half I don't so it'll be a fun year just getting to know everybody and I'm excited."
Rose continues to age like the finest of wines after producing one of the best performances ever seen by a player in their mid-forties on the PGA Tour.
He has built a reputation as one of the best-prepared players in the game and expanded his driving range beyond 300 yards in recent years.
As well as that continued desire to improve, he can couple that with big-stage experience and know-how which affords him composure in situations such as that which he faced on Sunday, when he was chasing the record tournament score at Torrey Pines.
No doubt, the desire to claim another major triumph to go alongside his 2013 US Open is keeping him hungry – with The Masters at Augusta National providing the next opportunity, with coverage of course, live on Your Site between Thursday, April 9 and Sunday, April 12.
"It doesn't get any easier the game, for sure," said Rose. "I think obviously, historically, we've seen that guys do have that little kind of tail off. I think back in the day, there was that bit of a waiting room for the Champions Tour from 47, 48, 49, 50.
"But Phil [Mickleson] won a major at [almost] 51; Adam Scott, you look at him, he's hitting the ball incredibly well. There's guys that can compete, I think, at this age, but there's not many of us, too. If you look at the world rankings, there's not many guys in their 40s.
"I think it's a life balance thing as well but, listen, I don't want to think overthink it. I'm just really enjoying my game right now, and I think that gives me the the energy and the commitment to want to work hard at it."
The PGA Tour moves to Arizona for the WM Phoenix Open, taking place on the Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale. Early coverage begins Thursday from 2.15pm on Your Site Golf ahead of full coverage from 8.30pm. or .
