The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Major boost has Rose eyeing title again
Former champion feels ready to add to his haul after near miss at Augusta
Former US Open champion Justin Rose believes it is only a matter of time before he claims a second major title following his brilliant performance in the Masters.
Rose’s 14-under-par total at Augusta National has only been bettered six times in the history of the Masters, but unfortunately one of those was by American Jordan Spieth in his recordbreaking victory.
However, the manner of the performance has given Rose renewed confidence that he can soon add to the US Open title he won at Merion in 2013, perhaps starting this week at Chambers Bay in Washington.
“I feel like I’ve kicked on from winning my first major, when sometimes it’s difficult to live up to that,” the world No 5 said.
“I feel like I’ve maintained my world ranking, I’ve won tournaments, I’ve done all the right things.
“Augusta was another sign this year. I came up against a great Jordan Spieth performance, but again it was a sign that my game was capable of winning these big championships.
“Since 2010, I feel like I’ve been on a nice upward trend; getting the monkey off my back by winning on the PGA Tour, the next year winning a play-off event in the FedEx Cup, the following year winning a World Golf Championship and the following year winning a major championship.
“I felt like the progression was really going nicely.
“I’m 34 now and I think from 30 to 40 I always felt was going to be the time where I was going to have to step up and win a major. To get that done relatively early in that time frame has been great.
“Let’s call it six years, that’s 24 majors that are going to come around. I feel like if I just keep doing what I’m doing, that’s going to throw up quite a few opportunities.
“They’re hard to win and sometimes this game, it can elude you pretty easily. I feel like the performance I put in in Augusta would have won many of those championships and I got beat by a better player on the week.
“But you’ve got to play your own game and create your own chances. I’ve played pretty well in the majors since. I think I saw a stat today that in the last 10 majors I’m fourth in scoring, and the last four majors I’m fourth in (scoring) under par.
“I’m doing all the right things, it’s just a matter of everything lining up again in one week.”
The field, which will tee off today at the 1st and 10th tees, includes five Scots – Colin Montgomerie, Marc Warren, Stephen Gallacher, Jimmy Gunn and Amateur champion Bradley Neil, from Blairgowrie.
Cole Hammer, a 15-year-old from Houston, will also tee it up after coming through qualifying in Dallas.