Justin Rose had insisted he would not let himself be defeated in the BMW Championship play-off. He gave everything but could not keep his promise. He can nevertheless console himself with the title of world No. 1 for the first time in his career.

Justin Rose - © Tour Pro Golf Clubs via flickr

Rose was determined to overthrow Dustin Johnson at the top of the world rankings with a victory at Aronimink, when a victory would have made the Englishman the best player on the PGA tour.

But he remains tied with Sir Nick Faldo with nine titles apiece, as he failed to match Keegan Bradley's score in the playoff opener, with both sides finishing the game 20 after Monday's final. .

The Ryder Cup star had a title hand when he birdie on birdie on 16 and 17 to keep up with Bradley, and Rose only needed one point to win.

However, Rose's approach stalled in the wind and landed before the green, and her poorly judged throw stopped 4,5 meters from the hole before her putt caught a large chunk of the hole but remained at outside.

A few minutes later, Bradley beat par and claimed his first PGA tour victory after losing more than six years, but the 38-year-old remained focused on the breadth of his success.

"Reaching the rank of No. 1 in the world is incredible, and I can say now that in my career, I have been the best player in the world"said Rose afterwards. “I went to the top of the game, and that's definitely a consolation. "

“I was hoping I could enjoy the moment, maybe, but I'll realize little by little. Tomorrow or the next day, or the next week, I'll come back to that and think it was amazing, an amazing time in my career. "

“I am disappointed at the moment. Losing the 72nd hole and participating in play-offs is obviously not a good thing, but the putt I had to win was the best putt I did to win the tournament I thought this thing was in the middle , but it was not. "

“But obviously it's a great consolation to be the No. 1 in the world. It's something I will be watching this week and I think it was an incredible achievement. I would have liked to be there to win, but today it was fun. "