The surprising face-flop of Justin Rose at the 2019 Masters was another sub-plot lost in the resurgence of Tiger-mania.
Rose went to Augusta National, ranked second in the world and his name was among the favorites to win the Green Jacket that eventually went to Tiger Woods.
Rose shot an embarrassing 75-73 and didn’t come close to making the 36-hole cut in the season’s first major.
Now he’s trying to get back on track this week at the Wells Fargo.
“I was looking at the majors this year as 10-day blocks. I was going to go and try and do my preparation on the weekend, take sort of a Monday off and then get into the week,” said Rose said after he arrived at Quail Hollow this week. “I feel like if I’m in the environment for too long, if I’m in the environment of being around the major for 10 days, it’s a long time to keep it together or to stay sharp.”
Obviously Rose wasn’t very sharp by the time play started at Augusta National. He didn’t play at all in the month of February to rest up for The Masters. He felt that inactivity left him in an awkward position. He felt like he had to play catch-up to a degree.
With the PGA Championship at Bethpage rapidly approaching, Rose said he will take a more traditional prep approach. Rose said he plans to make a scouting trip to Bethpage Black and then will go home to work on his game. “A bit like I did for Merion back in 2013. I went up there for a few days mid-week, really tried to get my head around the golf course, then came home for the weekend and tried to digest it, rest, spend some time with the family and head back up there early the next week.”
But first things first. Rose is the highest ranked player in the field this week and with the PGA just two weeks away, he needs a decent outing to boost his confidence after the poor outing at Augusta National.
Rose has rested for three weeks and should be quite fresh for his eighth appearance at Quail Hollow where he finished in the top five in his last two appearances. He was under par in all eight rounds, with a cumulative score of 18 under par.
He did miss the cut at the 2017 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, but still is happy to be back at a place that offers the type of tough test of golf.
“You have to respect a lot of pin placements here, you have to keep it under the hole,” Rose said. “I think you’re playing a more defensive style of golf at times. I think that suits me.”
