Justin Rose joked about playing day-night golf as he capped off a fine year by finishing joint fourth in an Australian Open finale that was buffeted by wind and finished late.
The world No.4 entered the final round two shots adrift of leader John Senden, but was unable to match veteran Peter Senior after carding a four-over-par 76.
Owing to a three-hour suspension of play due to brutal winds, the final group of Rose and Senden didn’t finish the tournament until after 7.30pm (AEDT), with the light fading fast.
“It was like a day-night match. I’ve never had shadows in the dark on the 18th green,” said Rose.
“Obviously you’ve got to do what you have to do. We’d much rather finish than come back tomorrow morning early.
“It was a good week. I couldn’t be disappointed, but days like that it’s very hard to be hard on yourself with the outcome.
“That’s a heavy wind, probably as much wind as I’ve ever played in to, be honest with you.”
Rose was surprised but happy the tournament finished on Sunday as he was booked on a flight out of Sydney on Monday morning.
“I thought we might get back out (after the suspension) but I didn’t think we’d finish,” the Englishman said.
“I’m delighted it’s finished. I can have a few beers in Sydney to celebrate a good season.
“Another top-five finish, you could argue if you wanted to look at the positives.
“I’m not going to be hard on myself. I had a great chance to win but Peter Senior didn’t put a foot wrong.
“I left a lot of putts short today, probably being a little bit tentative because you don’t want three or four feet coming back in this weather.”
Rose said the conditions hadn’t put him off returning to Australia.
“It’s a good place to come and play golf. It tests your game, the courses are great down here,” he said.
“You expect to play in windy conditions when you come to Oz and I relish that and look forward to that.”
The tournament’s other major international drawcard, American great Tom Watson, carded the day’s best score, a three-under 69, after enjoying the best of the morning conditions.
Watson also had the equal best round on Friday, but 78s on Thursday and Saturday left the eight-times major winner in a tie for 28th at five over for the championship.