More and more, Rose has found contentment in his peripatetic way of life – and it is probably because of his more laid-back attitude that he has been able to fathom one more piece of the golfing jigsaw. Namely, the right way of getting over the finishing line.
Though he did not come out on top in Dubai as he had done in Turkey and in the WGC-Cadillac Championship, he again had the satisfaction of knowing that he had done everything right. He had kept fighting every step of the way.
“Winning,” he explains, “is not about keeping your fingers crossed that you are still ahead at the end. It’s about so enjoying competing under the pressure that, when you get to the 72nd hole, you’re almost wishing you could play a 73rd. You want to carry on holing those pressure putts and making your performance run into the next week.”
That is precisely how it was during the last few holes of his 62, though if there was ever the right moment for a round – and a season – to end, this was it.
Almost certainly, he will break into a smile every time he recalls the putt he came within a whisker of holing on the home green.
The 90-footer slowly wended its way over one slope then another, giving Rose goose-pimples as it paused on a ridge before finally running down to the hole’s side amid a rising roar from the greenside stands.
Everyone had talked of how boring the tournament would be with McIlroy having tied up the Race to Dubai title before the last event but, as it turned out, people were over-excited rather than the reverse.
With particular reference to those manning the score-board to the side of the 18th green ... even before Rose tapped in for the birdie, they had his score up in lights.
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