2014 British Open Championship
English hopes of their 22 year British Open title drought being broken at this week’s British Open were given a boost after Justin Rose took out the 2014 Scottish Open. Interest in this year’s tournament had been greater than normal after Phil Mickelson won the lead in event to the Open Championship in 2013 and then backed that up a week later by claiming his fifth major championship and first British Open title.
After shooting a course record 64 in the opening round, many thought that Rory McIlroy had once again found his form for links golf. Sadly for Rory though, a second round 78 left him well off the pace at the half way mark and effectively ended his challenge.
There were no such misfortunes for Rose however who fired a masterful final round of 6-under 65 at the Royal Aberdeen links course to win by two strokes from Sweden’s Kristoffer Broberg. Rose goes into the third major championship of the year having just won his 20th professional tournament and second in succession with victory the week before at the USPGA event the Quicken Loans National played at the Congressional Country Club in Maryland. The winner of the 2013 US Open certainly has the game plan and the focus to make it three in a row at Royal Liverpool.
Rose first came to prominence as a 17 year old amateur competing at the 1998 British Open holing his approach shot on the final hole to finish the tournament in fourth place just two shots behind eventual winner, Mark O’Meara. Amazingly, this remains his best finish in the event. If current form is anything to go by however, the world number three has to be the man to beat and will be looking to become the first Englishman to win the British Open since Nick Faldo in 1992.
Australian Golf viewers will be wondering if Adam Scott can put to rest the demons from his dramatic collapse at the 2012 event and win his second major title. John Senden and Jason Day are two of Australia’s other best hopes with the quality ball striking of Senden sure to feature if weather conditions become testing.
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