British Open 2018: A case where Justin Rose should be the favorite at Carnoustie

CARNOUSTIE, Scotland – Friday marks 20 years to the day that Justin Rose becomes a professional, fresh out of his T-4 swan song enthusiast at the Birkdale Open Championship. Time flies when you have fun. And Rose has had a lot of fun over the last two decades, the most memorable with wins at the 2013 US Open at Merion and the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

Still, it can be said that Rose is playing the best golf of his career Since the start of the FedEx Cup playoffs last August, the Englishman has won four victories, 17 top-10 finishes in 22 world starts and s & Is ranked third in the world rankings.

For this reason, Rose comes to Carnoustie with an abundance of confidence, if also a little caution. He acknowledges that his record in the Open was not what he was hoping for: just an extra top-10 (T-6 at St. Andrews in 2015) since his arrival in 1998. [19659004] "I do not believe in superstition or anything like that, but I just feel that my game is in a good place," said Rose. "J & # 39; have the impression of playing well and creating opportunities regularly. So, yes, it depends on me, really. No statistics or no records. It's just about me and playing at this golf course this week and creating my chance to win. "

Rose was consoling himself for his open performance at the US at Shinnebad Hills last month.He started Sunday a head shot, and a 73rd shutdown left him tied for the 10th. this stage of his career, being in search of majors is his greatest motivation, even if the result is not always a W.

Coming to Carnoustie brings with him other good vibrations for Rose He finished T-12 at the 2007 Open and has a handful of solid finishes at the Dunhill Links Championship, which uses Carnoustie for one of his tricks.He ranks the course among his top four in the Open Rota

"For me here, you know, you have to hit shots," Rose said. "There are some creeks and dangers that you need to avoid. You can not always count on a little luck to get the ball on the green.

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Despite his familiarity with the course, Rose says he has not yet finalized a game plan to find out how he goes Address this week. The unusually fast conditions on the course made Rose decide how aggressive he would be at first.

"It'll probably be a mix of [drivers and irons]," Rose said. "Certainly for me, it's going to be knowing when to attack, and I think it's going to be a good strategy, knowing which pins are your birdie opportunities, which pins to stick to."

"I always start pretty conservative in my plan game, and by the time I arrive at Sunday, I've changed it drastically throughout the week. So, it's still a Fluid situation I think, until you see the forecast on a course of links, you can not really do too much of [it]. "

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Interestingly, there is another issue that stirs in the back of Rose's mind beyond 20 years since he's been there. has become pro. It's been 26 years since an Englishman won the Bordeaux pitcher (Nick Faldo, 1992). Rose believes that there are a number of his compatriots ready to end the drought, including Tommy Fleetwood and Paul Casey. But he argues that there is no reason it is not him.

"I'm waiting to create an opportunity sometime this week," Rose said. "I guess that's the self-confidence that I have right now, and I'm happy with that, I feel comfortable with that."

"It does not bother me not to wait. I think you must be a big boy, and you must be able to handle that. If you want to play at the highest level, that's what you have to live. I have no problem with that. "

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