The Four Major Championships

After the US Open Reed’s lead was extended to 7 shots ahead of Johnson, 8 ahead of Stenson and Fowler, with Justin Rose 12 shots adrift. Notables to miss the cut were John Rahm, Rory McIlroy and Bubba Watson. Previous Trophy winners Jordan Spieth (2015), Jason Day (2013 & 2016), Adam Scott (2012, 2013) and Tiger Woods (1999, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007) also failed at the second hurdle. After the Open Championship at Birkdale, Reed was still on -11 leading Finau by 5 shots with Fleetwood and Rose on -5. Fowler and Stenson were still chasing and within ten shots of the leader. Reed was favourite to win a Trophy, he didn’t know existed. At the PGA Championship , Patrick Reed missed the cut by 3 shots, so he was out of the race. Another time that the Trophy leader missed the final cut was Ian Baker Finch who had won the 1991 Open Championship in Birkdale.

over the final two rounds of the 16 round marathon.

21 players got though the four cuts in the Majors in 2018s, which is the largest number ever. Usually about 12 -15 players make it though the 16 rounds. With one round to go Fowler , the 2014 Trophy Champion, was two shots ahead of Rose. However Fowler’s one over par final round score was eclipsed by Rose shooting 2 under to beat Fowler by a single shot to take the Trophy. Rose had a total score of 1124 for the 288 holes of the Royal Selangor Trophy. Probably neither Fowler nor Rose knew what a fierce competition they were involved in. They will know in 2019. In 2019, the Royal Selangor Trophy website will update the scores as they progress so a close race can be appreciated by the players, spectators and media alike, worldwide.

Stenson also missed out to leave Finau, Fleetwood, Fowler and Rose to battle