How is Justin Rose's form heading into the US Open?
Last Updated: 12/06/18 5:30pm
Five years on from his triumph in Merion, we take a look at Justin Rose's form heading into the 2018 US Open...
The Englishman could have secured the world No 1 ranking if he'd finished in the top two at the Memorial Tournament last weekend, but he still managed a solid tie for sixth place to confirm his status as one of the favourites heading to Shinnecock Hills.
A week before, however, Rose did finish on top at the Fort Worth Invitational to secure his first title of 2018 on the PGA Tour having already secured WGC-HSBC Champions trophy in October.
There was also a third-place finish at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March and a 12th-place at the Masters.
Rose was in a similar vein of form ahead of his first, and so far only, major triump five years ago. In 2013 he managed a second place in the Arnold Palmer invitational, while he also recorded top-10s at the Honda Classic, the World Golf Championships and the Memorial Tournament.
He had been showing signs of form in 2012 as he finished tied for eighth at the Masters and then tied for third at the PGA Championship, while his impressive final-day 70 at Merion proved he had what it takes to compete and win over 72 holes with the very best at a major.
His US Open form has dipped since winning the trophy, though. In 2014 and 2015 he finished tied for 12th and 27th, while he has missed the cut altogether in the past two years.
"I'm delighted the way I played," Rose told Sky Sports Golf after his Forth Worth win last month. "The way I hit the ball this week... I'm a little speechless.
"This is something for me to build on. This week was a big step in the right direction. There's still more work to be done. It's going to be about conserving that energy into the US Open."
Rose may be in better form now than he was in 2013, but it remains to be seen whether he can carry his recent performances to Shinnecock Hills.
