Rose sees off Bjerregaard to win Hong Kong Open

“The last time I was out in the final group on a Sunday, I shot 89”, he said.

The lead changed hands several times during the round but it was the world number seven who finally prevailed with a two-under-par 70, which included four birdies and two bogeys, for a final total of 17-under.

However, the 24-year-old’s challenge collapsed at the 14th as he found the rough and then the trees on his way to a double bogey, the six seeing him fall one behind Rose – a deficit he would fail to claw back. “When you separate yourself from the field like we did, it’s probably a tough one for him to lose, but he didn’t lose it, it’s just that both of us played incredibly well”, added Rose, who has now won in every European Tour season dating back to 2012.

“Lucas played incredible golf and I was thoroughly impressed”.

India’s Anirban Lahiri (65), the leader on Asian Tour’s order of merit, made the turn at even-par but gained five shots on the back nine to sit in third spot on 11-under.

Rose scrambled a par on the first after a wild drive and left his birdie putt on the next three feet short, but made amends on the par-five third with a drive of more than 350 yards and an excellent approach setting up an eagle chance he converted from 25 feet. “I wanted to hang on to this one”, said Rose, the 2013 US Open champion whose last victory on the European Tour came at the Scottish Open past year.

“Starting the day, there was obviously Lucas and I ahead of the pack and that’s very much how it finished, so it really turned out to be a head-to-head battle between myself and Lucas”.

“It was just a really fun day playing with Lucas and flip-flopping birdies and eagles and really stretching away from the field”.

Fitzpatrick, who won the British Masters at Woburn a fortnight ago, had raced to the turn in 30 but also dropped his only shot of the day on the 18th in a round of 66.

Bjerregaard led until the final hole of round three, before a bogey at the last saw him have to settle with a share of first place going into the final round. “Slipped thru my fingers and I couldn’t hold on”.