Rose keeps hope of back-to-back wins alive

Justin Rose kept his hopes of becoming the first man for 25 years to win back-to-back US Open titles alive with a battling first round at Pinehurst.

Despite having the best of the conditions, Rose was four over par after nine holes yesterday, but birdied three of the next five before a duffed chip on the eighth cost him a fifth bogey of the day.

“I’ve got to play some great golf the rest of the week,” Rose said after finishing on a two-over-par 72.