Rose has blossomed into Open favourite in a month
JUSTIN ROSE has gone from Open outcast to bookies’ favourite in the space of four days. What a month it’s been for the young Englishman.
Victory in the AT&T National only just secured Justin’s place at St Andrews next week and now, all of a sudden, he’s become a major contender as the world’s most in-form player right now.
After a wait of 161 tournaments for his first PGA Tour win, the Memorial Tournament, last month, Justin wasted no time in claiming a second with a remarkable display of mental strength.
Just last week, he threw away a three-shot lead in the final round of the Travelers Championship, but showed nerves of steel in ensuring history wouldn’t repeat itself, holding off Ryan Moore with seven straight pars in the run-in.
With that in mind, this was the best win of his career to date, but with character like that, who’s to say he won’t eclipse that with a win at St Andrews next weekend.
It was also a great weekend for Spain with the football team reaching the World Cup semi-finals, Rafael Nadal winning Wimbledon and Miguel Angel Jimenez claiming the French Open in Paris after a three-way play-off.
At 46, Miguel beats my record as the French Open’s oldest winner and also becomes the eighth oldest European Tour winner of all time.
It’s great to see him still playing so well, he’s a great character and always a popular winner.
While the big guns, such as Phil Mickelson head for Loch Lomond for the Scottish Open this weekend, this Scot is off to Holland for the Van Lanschot Senior Open.
With the British Open coming up, this is a big tournament for me, and there are a few things I need to put right.