Sinking a sensational birdie from over five metres on the last hole of the dreaded Royal Troon, Justin Rose bid farewell to the 152nd edition of the Open Championship signing off with a sensational second place tied with Billy Horschel, just two strokes behind the champion, the American Xander Schauffele. And although with his elegance and savoir-faire he said goodbye affectionately to the hundreds of fans who gave him a warm ovation for his effort, after realising that he tried absolutely everything to win the Claret Jug, frustration soon appeared for the English golfer…
“At that moment you’re being a professional. Then, ten steps later, I was choking on tears, that’s what changes,” admitted Rose last night. A player who turns 44 at the end of the month and fights like few others against the passage of time to be able to continue competing with the new generations, who are gradually dominating world golf with an iron hand. The trailer he travels with, which has a recovery system exclusive to him, is a good example of his dedication.
The recognition on the 18th green of Royal Troon was a “magical moment” for Justin, in his own words. He took off his cap so quickly to greet that anyone could have thought he was the champion and not the runner-up. He was wearing a maroon jumper, the same outfit he wore that Sunday in 1998 when, as a 17-year-old amateur, he managed to hole from the rough to finish tied for fourth place in the famous British tournament and become the best amateur of that edition of the Open.
Rose threads the needle with a driver off the deck at the 16th. pic.twitter.com/3vZWT7fTvD
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 21, 2024
“I also won the FedEx Cup dressed in this colour,” he recalled. “It was a kind of superstition, let’s see if third time’s the charm,” he said. It couldn’t be, although he turned his last round at Royal Troon into a constant attack, aware that opportunities to win an event in which he has been second, third and fourth, are beginning to run out. Age does not forgive, as is becoming clear with players like Tiger, who add to the passage of years other added problems. But Rose strives to delay the passage of time.
Golf evolves with increasingly powerful players, with more swing speed, more flexibility, greater distance… The winners are getting younger and monopolise the top positions in tournaments. And this constant reduction in the age at which victories start to come also inadvertently reduces the maximum age at which there are still chances of achieving triumphs. But Justin Rose has his own system to continue being in the limelight in the face of these emerging talents.
To start with, he has gone back to working with his old caddie, Mark Fulcher, 59. Or rather, his wife managed to bring Mark back. They formed a winning pair for over a decade, but they parted ways in 2019, perhaps not in the best way. A year ago, at this time, they seemed to be “too proud” to call each other and start over, but “it was Mrs Rose calling Mrs Fulcher” who achieved it, revealed Mark. As a result of their reunion, at the Ryder, Rose holed a great putt to get half a point when the first day was coming to an end, preventing the Americans from winning a single match on Friday in Rome.
The lengths @JustinRose99 fans will go… pic.twitter.com/eeUIjFZGPk
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 21, 2024
But beyond going back to the origins with his right hand, the famous recovery trailer, as his team calls it, stands out. It’s a caravan that you could tow with any SUV that has cold baths, hot baths, infrared sauna and a steam room. “Chronologically he may be over 40, but I think biologically, because of how he takes care of himself, he probably has about 30,” says his swing coach, Mark Blackburn.
Rose is not the only forty-something who has been standing out recently. Sergio García, 44, won a few days ago in LIV Golf the Valderrama tournament. Adam Scott was close to doing so in Scotland and this Sunday he sealed a sensational top 10 at Royal Troon. “You have to adapt or die. I think the three of us are proud to be able to keep going,” said the Australian, who with his result, earned a place in next year’s Open Championship.
“At the peak of our career we were not good enough to beat Tiger at his peak and we have our chance 10 years later. Being close to a Major always stimulates us to keep going a few more years,” acknowledges Scott. Rose had been sensing it for some time: “It’s what motivates me the most to keep working hard, to try to give myself the summer of my career, to try to win one or two of these to complete a fantastic career”. He was close to achieving it in Scotland. He will keep trying in 2025, with his recovery, or rejuvenation, trailer in tow.
