Justin Rose believes he nonetheless has the sport so as to add to his main tally after overcoming robust scoring situations to make a bogey-free begin to The 152nd Open at Royal Troon.
The 43-year-old, seeking to turn into the primary English winner of The Open since Sir Nick Faldo in 1992, bounced again from three missed cuts in his final 4 begins to card a two-under 69 on a moist and breezy opening morning.
Rose has solely posted two top-10s in The Open since coming fourth on debut as an beginner in 1998, with the previous world No 1 needing to come back by Remaining Qualifying to safe his spot for this yr’s contest.
The previous US Open champion sits inside a shot of early clubhouse chief Justin Thomas, who posted an opening-round 68, with Rose seeking to take advantage of his alternative to assert a second main victory.
“It’s a little bit of a ticking clock,” Rose admitted. “It is apparent, is not it? [I’m] 44 quickly and historical past would recommend [winning is less likely] however I believe The Open gives you that chance possibly greater than a few of the different majors.
Justin Rose rolled again the years with a bogey-free 69 through the opening spherical at Royal Troon
“I nonetheless really feel very type of assured in myself that I can truly nonetheless enhance tomorrow versus at present. So long as that is the case, I will hold type of believing, for positive.
“Will I compete week in and week out on the very highest degree at 44? Who is aware of, however I nonetheless really feel like I am a ok golfer to seek out my spots and discover my angles and have my weeks the place all of it comes collectively.
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Justin Rose faces a line up of 5 random golfers – considered one of them is a present or former skilled, and 4 of them are imposters. Can he determine who the real professional is?
“What I’ve been really working hard for in the last two, three years is to have the opportunity late in my career to have a couple of special, amazing opportunities. That’s what’s keeping me going.”
On his efficiency, Rose added: “I came off a touch disappointed today, I felt like today could be a touch special. The were opportunities on the front and back nine. Lots of things that could have gone the other way on another day though, so overall pretty happy.”
Thomas ‘on course’ after sturdy begin
Thomas set the early tempo, having led after the opening day of final week’s Scottish Open, with the two-time PGA champion bouncing again from dropping three photographs within the house of two holes from the eleventh by making a birdie-birdie end.
“I played really solid, got it around,” stated Thomas, who has missed the minimize in 5 of his final seven majors and completed his spherical some 14 photographs higher than the opening-round 82 throughout final yr’s contest. “I felt like I had great control of the ball.
Justin Thomas is searching for a primary top-10 at The Open of his profession
“I hit a lot of fairways, which is a key I would say to any major, but definitely in an Open. A little bit of a hiccup in the beginning of the back nine, but stayed patient and kept plugging.
“I could not even inform you what I used to be considering [last year] or the way it was then. I am simply frightened about how I’m now, and I am very happy with my recreation and know issues are persevering with to work in the proper route. I’ve simply received to maintain making an attempt to play nicely.”
England’s Matt Wallace additionally briefly topped the leaderboard on the opening morning after sitting 4 underneath after eight holes, having holed out for eagle on the fourth, solely to triple-bogey the par-four ninth on his method to an opening-round 70.
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Matt Wallace eagled the fourth gap at Royal Troon after discovering the opening from 85 yards!
“Obviously the triple bogey on nine doesn’t help your scorecard, but I dealt with it great,” Wallace stated. “A lot of chat this week was about having to deal with stuff that you don’t want and I dealt with those very well.
“Had that one actual blip, and I did not play the way in which I needed to begin off the tee, so handled that, however to be in that place after which come into the clubhouse hitting it nicely down the stretch was very nice.
The Open Dwell
The Open Dwell
Friday nineteenth July 6:30am
“I think I get in my own way sometimes mentally, so I stop myself from allowing my game to come through because. I know it’s good enough and I’ve shown that – I think everyone can see that.
“I believe everybody would additionally agree that they see me not getting the total potential out of my recreation, so I have to determine that out. I really feel I may be competing for giant tournaments. That is what I really feel I can do. I have never achieved that in a very long time, so if I can begin competing, I will be very pleased.”
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