Britain's Justin Rose was ready to win his first PGA Tour title but unprepared for the strong winds at the Bob Hope Classic on Sunday.

His victory bid unravelled in gusts of up to 70 kph as he closed with a four-over-par 76 at the Classic Club in Palm Desert, California.

"I looked at the weather forecast last night and it said north-easterly wind, 15 miles an hour," Rose told reporters after finishing one shot outside a playoff, won by American Charley Hoffman.

"I was really excited about that. The course was going to be playing tough and I was ready for that challenge. But when it blows 40, it's a whole different kettle of fish.

"It becomes survival more than anything," added Rose, who ended a title drought of more than four years on the European Tour by winning the Australian Masters two months ago.

The 26-year-old Englishman, who held the outright lead for much of the final round in the California desert, said putting had been particularly difficult.

"Holing out is tough and the wind seemed to be especially tough on the front nine around holes four, five, six, seven," Rose said. "You're body is moving, your putter had to move and you get a gust of wind.

"I couldn't believe that balls weren't moving somewhere out on the golf course. My ball was wobbling for sure.

"On the second green, I was lucky. My ball wobbled and I had addressed it and I was lucky that my ball didn't move."

CHIPPING IN

Rose, who burst on to the world scene as a 17-year-old amateur by chipping in at the last to tie for fourth in the 1998 British Open at Royal Birkdale, had one regret in the final round.

"The only thing that I would like to go back and do is take my tee shot off 18 again," he said.

Rose was tied for the lead with American John Rollins at 16 under standing on the par-five 18th tee before he found a fairway bunker with his drive.

After laying up short of the green in two, he was unable to sink a lengthy birdie putt to join Hoffman and Rollins in the playoff.

"I think I made some killer swings coming down the stretch," the three-times European Tour winner said.

"On 16, I made my two best swings of the day when I needed to. I hit a great three-iron second shot there. On 17, I hit another great three-iron in there to 15 feet."

One stroke ahead of the field with eight holes to play, Rose bogeyed 11 and 13 and his victory hopes evaporated with five consecutive pars over the closing stretch.

"The wind was playing us today," he said. "I think it was a bit of a shame, really, because it was survival more than anything.

"I don't think there was much great golf being played out there."