Justin Rose admits “clock is ticking” on Open dream

Whisper it, but Justin Rose turns 44 before the end of the month.

Now, shout it loud: he is in with a great chance of finally winning The Open.

The former world No.1 harnessed challenging conditions to open with a two-under 69 at Royal Troon on what is his 21st start in the championship.

That leaves him only a shot off the early pace set by Justin Thomas.

Rose, who only secured his place in the field through Final Qualifying earlier in the month, has a distinguished history with The Open, having first served notice of his talent when he finished in a tie for fourth at Royal Birkdale in 1998.

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However, whilst he has gone on to have huge success in the pro ranks – winning the US Open in 2013 and Olympic gold in 2016, for example – the Claret Jug has continued to elude him.

After such a great start, he knows that the next three rounds could be one of the last huge opportunities he has to right that wrong.

“I mean, it’s obvious, isn’t it?” said Rose. “I’m 44 soon. History would suggest [time is running out]. But I think The Open offers you that opportunity maybe more than some of the other majors.

“I still feel very kind of confident in myself that I can actually still improve tomorrow versus today. As long as that’s the case, I’ll keep kind of believing for sure.”

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Rose made a clutch up-and-down at the par-3 eighth after finding a greenside bunker when he was distracted by a noise from the galleries.

Nothing malicious, he insisted. Just unfortunate timing.

“It started to rain a little bit, so there was a lot of noise with the umbrellas, and I think right in my backswing someone must have dropped an umbrella or something,” he explained. “I came out of the shot a little bit, and obviously with the wind off the left, you’re not going to get away with it on that hole.

“I was playing so nicely, and once you’re in the bunker down there, anything can happen.

“It was a tough miss, but a great up-and-down, and obviously that was great to keep the momentum up in my round at that point for sure.”

Michael McEwan is bunkered's Head of Content and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Head of Content