Justin Rose on song for another US Open tilt ten years on from Merion triumph

Ten years on from etching his name into U.S. Open folklore, Justin Rose returns to the stage of his greatest triumph with every reason to believe this week may be his time to claim his second Major Championship.

Rose won his first, and so far only, Major title at Merion Golf Club a decade ago as he became the first Englishman to win the event since Tony Jacklin in 1970.

Since that momentous victory, he has summitted the Official World Golf Ranking, added several titles to his DP World Tour haul, won the FedEx Cup on the PGA TOUR, represented Europe with distinction in the Ryder Cup and become golf’s first Olympic gold medallist in 112 years.

But until February’s AT&T National Pro-Am at Pebble Beach on the PGA TOUR, the 42-year-old had gone four years without a worldwide victory.

Yet, his ambitions for success at the top of the game had never been undimmed. His victory in Florida has fuelled a revival that has seen him climb from 71st in the world to 25th in a four-month span.

After a tie for sixth at THE PLAYERS Championship in March, Rose has recorded four top 20s with a worst finish of T36 in his subsequent six starts.

No wonder he is widely being earmarked for victory at the 123rd U.S. Open at the Los Angeles Country Club as the memories of his childhood dream being realised in 2013 come into sharp focus.

“It turned into a magical week and there were so many factors in play,” Rose said.

“It was one of the first majors that I really identified as a huge opportunity and I really went out of my way to prepare for, really did things a little bit differently that week.”

What Rose alludes to is his decision to go to Merion on an advance scouting trip.

A local caddie emphasised to him to treat the course like a theatrical play: The first six holes being drama, the middle six holes being comedy and the closing six-hole stretch as tragedy.

In an interview with the United States Golf Association to mark the milestone anniversary of his Major breakthrough, Rose said: “That began to make me really understand the golf course, the flow of the golf course and the patience levels… I certainly wouldn’t have had that perspective if I had turned up on Monday of U.S. Open week.”

Even inclement weather that disrupted the opening two rounds of play and changed the challenge the course posed couldn’t undermine the preparatory work he had put in.

After rounds of 71 sandwiched a Friday 69 on the par-70 layout, Rose found himself two off the pace set by Phil Mickelson when he teed off on the final day.

In an absorbing climax to the week, Rose first hit the front at the eighth hole as the lead changed hands several times.

Birdies at the 12th and 13th helped Rose back out in front, after Mickelson had earlier made a hole-out eagle at the tenth to reignite his challenge.

One ahead with three holes to play, Rose parred his way home to finish at one over and watch on as Mickelson could not find a birdie to force a play-off, while Hunter Mahan – who held a share of the lead as late as the 14th – finished fell away over the closing holes.

After tapping in his final putt, set up by a brilliant four iron from the fairway, Rose looked skywards in what he later revealed was a gesture to acknowledge his father and long-time mentor Ken, who died from leukaemia in 2002.

“Being a father myself by that point in my life, it was very special,” he said.

“My coach at the time, Sean Foley, sent me a really great message the morning of the final round making it clear what a good day would look like.

“It wasn’t necessarily based upon the result, it was more about going out there and carrying myself in a way that would make not just my dad proud, but my kids, being a role model for them and showing them how to carry yourself in pressure situations.”

After 54 Major appearances, Rose knows more than most just how career-defining these events are.

“The fact you are tied to the greats of the game on one particular trophy is something that can’t be taken away,” he said.

“They can’t etch out my name from that trophy. That is something that lasts forever.

“It is why these championships are so special. That is what it is all about. It is about being part of the history of the game. That comes from all the players that have gone before you.”

Now, buoyed by his best stretch of form since he was World Number One, could Rose be about to enhance his standing in the world game by becoming a multiple Major winner?