Justin Rose’s Indonesian Open meltdown costs him top ranking

Poom Saksansin wins title for second time as he leads home Thai top three

Poom Saksansin of Thailand posing with the winner’s trophy after the final round of the Indonesian Masters at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club in Jakarta. Photograph: Arep Kulal/Asian Tour/AFP
Poom Saksansin of Thailand posing with the winner’s trophy after the final round of the Indonesian Masters at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club in Jakarta. Photograph: Arep Kulal/Asian Tour/AFP

Justin Rose failed to reclaim the world number one ranking after a final round meltdown at the Indonesian Masters on Sunday as Thai Poom Saksansin claimed the title for the second time with a three-shot victory.

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’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 birdie putt ended up with a triple bogey, which he followed with another bogey at the 13th.

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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.

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.

Janewattananond 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.

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.