Justin Rose holds nerve to win AT&T title by one shot

JUSTIN Rose, who started the year down at 70th in the world, is all the way back up to 16th after his second victory in the United States in five weeks.

The 29-year-old's one-shot win at the AT&T National, following as it did his Memorial Tournament triumph at the start of June, makes it nine Europeans in the top 16 and four of the last five events in the States have been won by British golfers. Lee Westwood won in Memphis and then Graeme McDowell, of course, captured his first major title at the US Open.

Rose was also leading the Travelers Championship two weeks ago until a closing 75 dropped him to ninth. He held his nerve to triumph by one shot at the AT&T National in Pennsylvania on Sunday night.

The Englishman, who took a four-shot lead into the final round, carded a level-par 70 to finish on 10-under - a stroke clear of Ryan Moore (65), two ahead of Jeff Overton (67) and three better than Charlie Wi (69).

Rose's Travelers Championship collapse looked to be playing on his mind in the early stages of Sunday's round and four birdies by Moore on the back nine had the American in the clubhouse on nine under with Rose still having two holes to play, but the 29-year-old parred both to clinch the title.

"This was an important day for me," he said. "I knew having not closed out last week it was important for me just for myself to do it today, but to do it in a way I felt like I really did put into play the lessons I learned at Hartford.

"I played much slower and I really felt calm. I didn't feel like the nerves got the better of me at all the whole weekend, so I was much better at that."

Tiger Woods produced a final-round 71, with four bogeys and three birdies, to finish with a four-over-par 284 for a share of 46th spot.

The world No 1 was never in contention in Pennsylvania after an opening round of 73, but nevertheless was taking positives into next week's Open Championship at St Andrews.

"I'm really excited," he said. "I've driven the ball better this week than I have in a very long time. So it was nice to get back dialled in (but) obviously I need to get my putter working a little bit better and get rolling."

l AS will be the case when the Walker Cup is held at Royal Aberdeen next year, the Great Britain & Ireland team for the 2012 Curtis Cup at Nairn will be captained by a Welsh golfer.

Tegwen Matthews, who played in four successive matches against the Americans from 1974 to 1980, has been appointed to the role by the Ladies Golf Union after serving as team manager to her predecessor, Mary McKenna. The 2010 Curtis Cup match takes place on 8-10 June.