In-form Rose relishing St Andrews appearance

JUSTIN ROSE did not know for certain that he was in next week’s British Open until Sunday night – but now he is one of the favourites.

A second victory in the US in five weeks – after 161 US Tour events without winning once – makes Rose and US Open champion Graeme McDowell the hottest things in golf as St Andrews fast approaches.

McDowell will be trying to make it three titles in a row at the Barclays Scottish Open this week, while Rose can look ahead to finally playing an Open at the Home of Golf.

In 1995, aged just 14, he won a local qualifying competition against more than 100 professionals, but missed out at the final qualifying stage.

Five years later – two years after he had finished fourth at Birkdale while still an amateur – he failed to qualify again.

Then in 2005 he was first reserve and waited close to the first tee all day, but nobody pulled out.

“That was a terrible day,” he said.

“I was there from the crack of dawn and you watch all your friends and guys that you know you’re every bit as good as teeing it up and getting all prepared for the tournament.

“You feel like a spare part, but it gives you inspiration. You don’t want to be that guy – you want to be part of the action.

“I won the Links Trophy as an amateur there, which was probably the performance that got me into the Walker Cup.

“And I finished second at the Dunhill Links Championship in ‘07 – it’s a place I love. How can you not love St Andrews?

“You’ve just got to stand on the first tee there and you feel like you’re part of something special.”

Now he will return, certain of a spot this time off a current form money list in the States which ended this weekend, as a world top 20 player again after suddenly bursting forth.

It might even have been three titles in just over a month. He led with a round to go two weeks ago, but had a poor final round.

“I knew having not closed out (at the Travelers Championship) it was important for me just for myself to do it,” he said after beating American Ryan Moore by one at the AT&T National on Sunday night.

“I felt like I really did put into play the lessons I learned at Hartford.

“I think winning on the PGA Tour is a stepping stone to winning major championships.”

Meanwhile Phil Mickelson has another chance to go to world number one this week – and he may not even have to win the Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond to get there.

A second-place finish on Sunday will be good enough for the Masters champion to topple Tiger Woods for the first time in his career providing there are no more notable withdrawals from the field.

Mickelson has been his closest challenger for 253 of those weeks, but his Augusta triumph – the fourth major he has won – has brought him within firing distance.

“It would be something very special,” Mickelson said. “But to accomplish that I can’t focus on that – I still need to go out and play like the number one player in the world.

“I can’t wait to get over there (to Scotland). I’m looking forward to getting my lines, my feels, my numbers over there again. I love playing the golf course.

“There doesn’t get a much bigger arena than this unless it’s a major championship.

“This prepares you. This is great practice.”