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Durant exploits Rose slump

23/10/2006

Justin Rose was left to rue yet another collapse as veteran Joe Durant exploited the US-based Briton's slump to claim his first title in five years at the Disney Classic in Florida.

Rose had led through midway thanks to his record-breaking opening round of 60 but a third-round 72 left him in need of a good last 18 holes to challenge for the title.

Unfortunately for him a scored never materialised and his three-under-par 69 left him five shots behind Durant and one behind US pair Frank Lickliter and Troy Matteson.

"It wasn't great today at all," the 26-year-old admitted. "I just wasn't quite on the boil. I had to be really patient and just hang in there."

The 42-year-old Durant, who turned pro in 1987, was left to claim the fourth title of his career and his first since the Genuity Championship in March 2001.

"I knew the kind of round you needed to play on the last day to win, especially when the scores are low, and I was fortunate to do that," he said.

"I played very solid today. I wanted to go out and hit fairways and greens. I've been rolling the ball well, so I felt if I could go out and play the way I did yesterday I would have a very good chance.

"I said this on the putting green, and I mean this in all sincerity, this is one of the biggest tournaments for me to win because this is such a family event, and my family has been the backbone of me and my career, and we always dreamed about staying on 18 with Mickey. So this was very satisfying for our whole family, it really was."

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