Poom wins in Jakarta, Rose collapse costs him top rank

Poom wins in Jakarta, Rose collapse costs him top rank

Poom Saksansin in action at the Indonesian Masters. Poom was an easy winner, as Thais finished 1-2-3 at the tournament. (Asian Tour via AFP)
Poom Saksansin in action at the Indonesian Masters. Poom was an easy winner, as Thais finished 1-2-3 at the tournament. (Asian Tour via AFP)

JAKARTA: Poom Saksansin won the Indonesian Masters for the second time on Sunday by three shots, as Justin Rose failed to reclaim the world No.1 ranking after a final round meltdown.

Rose's title defence was effectively ended by a third-round 71 but, starting the day in a share of fourth, the tie for 16th with one other player or better he needed to replace American Brooks Koepka at the top of the rankings looked straightforward.

The 38-year-old Briton's putting let him down badly, however, and he started with a bogey before adding a double bogey at the second when he twice failed to chip the ball up a bank and onto the green.

Worse was to come at the 12th when he had a reasonably gettable birdie putt but ended up with a triple bogey, which he followed with another bogey at the 13th.

The Olympic champion birdied his final two holes amid gusting winds as a storm bore down on the course but it was too little, too late and he signed for a three-over-par 75 which left him in a share of 17th on six-under.

Jazz Janewattananond spiced up the final round with a late surge but could not deny compatriot and 2016 champion Poom, who held the lead from the midway stage of the Asian Tour's season-ending event at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club.

Fellow Thai Jazz wielded a hot putter to sink six birdies and a couple of eagles in his round of 65 for second place but Poom was never really threatened.

Poom made a strong start with three birdies in his first six holes and signed for a final round 68 for a winning total of 20-under 268.

Panuphol Pittayarat (66) completed a Thai 1-2-3 a shot ahead of Sweden's Henrik Stenson (71), who finished alone in fourth on 14-under.

India's Shubhankar Sharma, who was already assured of winning the Asian Tour's Order of Merit, missed the cut.

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