Recent Rose victories opens route to St Andrews

JUSTIN ROSE did not know for certain that he was in next week’s British Open until last night – but now he is one of the favourites for it.

A second victory in the United States in five weeks – after 161 US Tour events without winning once – makes Rose and US Open champion Graeme McDowell the hottest things in golf as St Andrews fast approaches.

McDowell will be trying to make it three titles in a row at the Scottish Open this week, while Rose can look ahead to finally playing an Open at the Home of Golf.

In 1995, aged just 14, he won a local qualifying competition against more than 100 professionals, but missed out at the final qualifying stage and so had to settle for watching John Daly beat Costantino Rocca in a play-off.

Five years later – two years after he had finished fourth at Birkdale while still an amateur, of course – he failed to qualify again.

Then in 2005 he was first reserve and waited close to the first tee all day, but nobody pulled out.

“That was a terrible day,” he said.

“I was there from the crack of dawn and you watch all your friends and guys that you know you’re every bit as good as teeing it up and getting all prepared for the tournament.

“You feel like a spare part, but it gives you inspiration. You don’t want to be that guy – you want to be part of the action.”

Not that he feels jinxed by the venue. “Actually I’ve got very fond memories,” he said. “I won the Links Trophy as an amateur there, which was probably the performance that got me into the Walker Cup.

“And I finished second at the Dunhill Links Championship in ’07 – it’s a place I love. How can you not love St Andrews? You’ve just got to stand on the first tee there and you feel like you’re part of something special.” Now he will return, certain of a spot this time off a current form money list in the States which ended this weekend, as a world top 20 player again after suddenly bursting forth.

“I knew having not closed out (at the Travelers Championship) it was important for me just for myself to do it,” he said after beating American Ryan Moore by one at the ATT National.

ATT NATIONAL(at Aronimink Golf Club, Newtown Square, Delaware County, Pennsylvania) – Leading final scores (USA unless stated, par 70): 270 – Justin Rose (Eng) 69 64 67 70; 271 – Ryan Moore 67 70 69 65; 272 Jeff Overton 68 68 69 67; 273 – Charlie Wi (Kor) 69 65 70 69; 274 – JB Holmes 70 67 71 66; 275 – Carl Pettersson (Swe) 67 72 65 71; 276 – Nick Watney 66 71 70 69, Marc Leishman (Aus) 71 70 67 68; 277 – Vijay Singh (Fij) 71 70 67 69, Jason Day (Aus) 66 68 72 71; 278 – Daniel Chopra (Swe) 69 70 72 67, Sean O'Hair 71 68 70 69, Vaughn Taylor 70 71 70 67, Bo Van Pelt 69 68 70 71, Stuart Appleby (Aus) 71 69 69 69.