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Justin Rose is gearing up for the Open the best way there is: winning tournaments.

The Englishman got the better of Shawn Stefani in a play-off to win his second Quicken Loans National title, and he says he’s now in great shape going into Hoylake.

“To do it and get it done making key putts, that’s huge for my psyche going into a major championship,” said Rose.

“It’s a huge boost confidence-wise for sure, because I’ve been semi in contention this year. It’s really nice time of year to have a victory.”

Both Rose and Stefani finished the tournament on four-under-par, meaning a play-off was needed to separate them. Stefani cracked under the pressure making a double-bogey after his approach found the water. Rose remained calm and pared at the first time of asking, taking the title.

Justin Rose on Congressional

The former US Open champion was impressed by the way the course was set up, and said it was a stern test.

“It played a lot tougher than 2011 (the last time Rose played the course). It was even tougher than 2010 US Open.

“I really thought the setup was great this week. It was fair but you had to play good, strategic golf.”

Justin Rose and the Open

The last time Royal Liverpool hosted the Open Championship in 2006 Rose wasn’t even in the field.

“That was sort of a re-motivating period of time in my life.” – Justin Rose

The Englishman was going through a bad spell in his career and by his own admission wasn’t there because he “wasn’t very good”. Fast-forward eight years and Justin Rose is one of the top contenders for the Claret Jug.

“That was sort of a re-motivating period of time in my life when I was sort of out on the sidelines missing these major,” said Rose.

Tiger Woods assessment

woods didn’t join Justin Rose and Co at the weekend, missing the cut by four shot. However, Woods remains positive about his recovery from injury.

“I hate to say it but I’m really encouraged by what happened this week,” said Woods. “The fact that what I was able to do physically and the speed I had and distance that I was hitting the golf ball again was good. I hadn’t done that in a very long time.”