Justin Rose more than a qualified success as he tames Troon's tantrums

England's Justin Rose acknowledges the crowd as he makes his way to the 18th green during day two of The Open at Royal Troon. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire.

Recollections of one-and-done Open winners were all the rage earlier this week. Henrik Stenson, Todd Hamilton, Justin Leonard, Tom Weiskopf and Arthur Havers all had their moments at Royal Troon but another unlikely lad bears mentioning.

Paul Lawrie was ranked 241st in the world when he took the Claret Jug at Carnoustie in 1999. He was the first Scotsman to win it in 68 years and the first qualifier to head the leaderboard on the Sunday evening since the R&A started giving exemptions in 1963.

Justin Rose is a qualifier this year. Just saying.

The 2013 US Open champion tied for sixth at this year’s US PGA but it is almost a decade since he was a factor at a home Open. That has changed with two superb rounds of 69 and 68, his 36 holes throwing up just the one bogey to date.

Rose made a quip a few days ago about needing to be ‘in it to win it’. He has worked his way to within two strokes of Shane Lowry’s seven-under mark on the back of what he believes was invaluable ground work in that qualifying route.

“I look back at Burnham & Berrow, we played in a really, really tough westerly breeze. That golf course is incredibly difficult in a westerly and I think even that little bit of experience of get back playing some tough links golf has probably help me a little bit these last two days.” 

Rose was the one player in action yesterday afternoon, when the weather was at its wildest, who leaned into the elements and responded with the sort of round that projected him up the scoreboard. He is entitled to feel that this is in him.

Thursday night leader Daniel Brown, ranked 272nd in the world coming in to this tournament, battled to a very acceptable one-over 72 to stay within two of Lowry as well, but hopes of a ‘home’ win lie mostly on Rose’s shoulders.

It’s been 32 years since an Englishman won this title, when Nick Faldo claimed the third of his titles with a one-stroke margin over the USA’s John Cook, but Rose was reluctant to take all that historical weight on board before round three.

“No, I've got my own problems. We've got enough problems with football,” he joked. “I can't bring golf into it. That would be nice.

“When I won the US Open it was our first since Tony Jacklin [43 years earlier], so those are nice moments when it comes together and you can share the story of what it means, but you're never thinking of it.” 

There are no shortage of other runners and riders, lots of them with pedigree. Scottie Scheffler sits on two-under, Xander Schauffele is one more back and the vagaries of those winds will keep plenty interested further down the charts.

Just as notable are the names absent this last two days. Rory McIlroy, Bryson DeChambeau, Victor Hovland, Tommy Fleetwood, Cameron Smith, Ludvig Aberg, Tony Finau and one Tiger Woods among them.