Augusta (United States) (AFP) – Justin Rose isn’t taking extra motivation from his playoff loss to Rory McIlroy as the “nearly man” of Augusta National tries to capture a long-sought Masters title. The 45-year-old Englishman, a three-time Masters runner-up including last year’s dramatic win by McIlroy, fired a three-under-par 69 on Friday to put himself in the hunt for a green jacket again on five-under-par 139.
Rose, the 2013 US Open champion, says he doesn’t need any extra inspiration. “Not really, if I’m honest,” he said. “Of course I want to win this tournament. I don’t really need to try any harder.” The experience in that is probably trying harder ain’t going to help me. So that’s probably the dance I’m doing with myself. I know the intrinsic motivation is there. It’s about execution, and typically when you play your best golf, you’re always lighting it up rather than getting more intense.”
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Rose opened with a bogey and struggled early but found his form on a three-birdie run from the ninth through 11th holes and answered a bogey at the par-three 12th with a birdie at the par-five 15th for his 18th career Masters round in the 60s. “A few putts slid by for me, a few missed chances. I felt like I played really well. Got into to a rhythm. Got off to a slow start. I said to myself going down the third fairway, ‘Let’s build some momentum. The masters rebuild starts here.'”
Rose remains steadfast that the true battle at Augusta won’t come until Sunday’s back nine. “I can’t really get ahead of myself. It’s all about back nine on Sunday for me and jockeying for position,” Rose said. “I’m in a good position. That’s all I can say.” Rose compared parts of the firm and fast grounds at Augusta National to a cricket pitch in his homeland. “It’s beginning to look baked out,” Rose said. “Obviously this whole area here where everyone is walking feels like a cricket pitch rather than a golf course now.”
At 45, Rose takes pride is how well he competes with younger rivals. “I feel good with where I’m at. That’s all I know,” Rose said. “I can still chip away at certain things. I’ve still got tons of improvement. I feel like that’s the bit that keeps me going — I do believe that next week I can be better than this week.” He feels a lot like he did last year. “That means I’m doing a lot of other good things because I’m not feeling older,” he said. “I feel in good form. I feel in good spirits. Enjoying it.”
Rose was under a tree with his first tee shot and made bogey to start. He missed seven-foot birdie putts at the par-five second and par-three fourth — tossing his putter into the air in frustration at the latter. “I’m under a bush on five already one-over for the round. I felt like momentum was definitely going the wrong way,” Rose said. “I did a good job of digging in at that point and rebuilding the round. I give myself a lot of credit for finding that momentum and finding that good play.”
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