Rose blooms as Bjorn wilts

Englishman feeling upbeat ahead of return to Royal Birkdale

Last updated: 6th July 2008

Justin Rose European Open fourth round at The London Club

Rose: Finding some form ahead of Royal Birkdale

I feel like there's some very good golf lurking somewhere

Justin Rose
Quotes of the week

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Justin Rose was not too disappointed with his performance in the European Open despite finishing on two-over-par.

The Englishman concluded his final tournament before The Open with a round of 71 at The London Club, a dramatic improvement on Saturday's 77.

Now the 27-year-old is hoping he is beginning to flower at the right time ahead of the third Major of the season at a course that he is all-too familiar with.

It was at Royal Birkdale in 1998 that Rose shot to fame as a 17-year-old amateur, finishing tied for fourth before turning professional the following week.

Good feeling

"I feel like there's some very good golf lurking somewhere," he said. "I was hanging in, hanging in, but yesterday afternoon caught up with me - you can only stay patient for so long.

"The result does not bear reflection on how I played and getting a good feeling in the wind makes the week worthwhile just in case the weather's bad at Birkdale.

"I'm doing a lot of things really well and right. I've just got to keep persevering.

"I changed my putting routine today - more instinctive and freewheeling - and to hole a couple was an amazing feeling. I'd putted really poorly before."

Rose, who will continue his preparations for The Open by practising on links courses in Kent, finished with two birdies in his final three holes.

However, for the third successive day he did have a double bogey on his card, a six at the very first hole not the start he had hoped for on Sunday.

Bjorn struggling

Thomas Bjorn's bid to maintain his impressive appearance record in The Open is in danger after he was forced to pull out of the European Open before the start of his final round.

The Dane fell ill overnight and now has just one chance to qualify for Royal Birkdale, with a top five finish required at next week's Scottish Open.

The 37-year-old, who pulled out of Open qualifying on Monday with shoulder trouble, has played every Open since his debut in 1996.

Bjorn finished joint-second behind Tiger Woods at St Andrews in 2000 and was runner-up again at Sandwich three years later after blowing a three-shot lead over the final four holes.