Rose keen to play at Scottish Open as Laird and Knox falter

JUSTIN ROSE, the reigning US Open champion, posted his lowest score of the season at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans yesterday then hinted he is considering adding this year’s Scottish Open to his schedule, writes Bernie McGuire, in New Orleans.

Rose had seven birdies, all over his closing 11 holes, in a 67 in heatwave conditions on the TPC Avondale course. It took the world No. 11 – he is the highest ranked player contesting the $6.8m event – to six under par but the American Ben Martin, having added a 67 to his opening 62, had moved four clear of the field on 15 under par.

Rose is returning to action for the first time since his disappointment in sharing 14th place in the Masters.

As a result Rose said he is considering competing in Texas in the week prior the Masters next year and, given his poor performances in the Open in recent years, also entering this year’s Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open the week before.

“I got it going today to be six under for my last 11 holes and it was nice to put together a good run but I need to go out tomorrow and do the same,” said Rose. “Looking back on Augusta, I played well in the middle as anybody in the field but had poor first and final scores. While I could take a lot out of that, taking two weeks off prior to Augusta next year is something I will change next year.

“It means I might play the Houston Open the week before the Masters and the Scottish Open at Royal Aberdeen in the week before we go to Hoylake.

“I remember playing Royal Aberdeen a long time ago in like a Great Britain & Ireland v Europe match, and I played Sergio [Garcia] in the singles; if my memory serves me right we halved. I played Castle Stuart a few years ago but my form hasn’t been great in the Open Championship the last four to five years so I am looking to remedy that. What Phil [Mickelson] did last year was fantastic and would be the perfect prep.”

Russell Knox was heading back to Jacksonville Beach for his first weekend off since his April 12th marriage after rounds of 73 and 72 left him at one over. Knox’s second round was a mix of four birdies but also two bogeys and a 15th-hole double bogey where he was in two fairway bunkers.To his credit it is only Knox’s third missed cut in 15 events of the PGA Tour’s 2013/14 wraparound schedule.

Martin Laird was homeward-bound for the third event in succession after adding a second-round 77 to his opening 70 for a three-over-par total. He had a birdie at the 16th hole but also four bogeys and a ninth-hole double where he flew the green with his third shot chip that found the alligator infested water hazard.