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Justin Rose says winning The Open at Carnoustie would be 'career-defining'

The British Masters host says tournament 'tugs on heartstrings'

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Justin Rose says winning this year's Open Championship would be "career-defining", 20 years after finishing 4th as an amateur

Justin Rose will go into this year’s Open Championship at Carnoustie looking for a "career-defining" victory, 20 years after bursting onto the scene by finishing fourth at the tournament as a 17-year-old amateur.

That remains Rose's highest-ever finish at the championship and despite claiming 22 professional wins, including one major title (the US Open in 2013), the 37-year-old believes lifting the famous claret jug would surpass them all.

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Rose will arrive at Carnoustie next month in good form, having finished tied for 10th at this year's US Open, and the world number three says he is close to finding a winning formula.

He told Sky Sports News: "The claret jug would be such a defining moment in my career. It would almost be a full circle event and tie up the loose ends.

"I haven't really had a lot of great chances in the Open since 1998, I have had a few but 1998 was my best ever Open finish so it would be nice to remedy that.

Justin Rose
Image: Rose has yet to better his fourth place finish at The Open in 1998

"At the US Open, I played well. I was in and around the lead all week. I didn't really play my best golf but I did a good job of hanging in there until the Sunday when the putts wouldn't fall.

"My consistency has been brilliant all summer so I am trying to keep that going. Then, you are just looking for a spark, something to get you over the finish line."

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It promises to be another busy year for Rose. After The Open, he will turn his attention to the Ryder Cup before hosting the British Masters supported by Sky Sports at Walton Heath in October.

Rose will host the 2018 British Masters supported by Sky Sports at Walton Heath
Image: Rose will host the 2018 British Masters supported by Sky Sports at Walton Heath

"It is great to come home," said Rose. "Obviously I do play a lot of my golf on the PGA Tour so to come and host an event here in the UK is very important to me.

"The British Masters is one that tugs on my heartstrings. It is the only event that my dad has ever seen me win, he passed away not long after that, so it is one of my most special victories. It has got an added emotional factor for me.

"It would be great to get as many of the lads to come and participate as possible, especially if it is off the back of a successful Ryder Cup. I will be campaigning in the team room.

"I think we are going to have a great Ryder Cup. We have got guys like [Tommy] Fleetwood, [John] Rahm and [Paul] Casey, those boys change the face of our team massively."

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