Monday 14 July 2014 09:35, UK
Justin Rose cruised to victory in the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open on Sunday to claim back-to-back wins for the first time in his career.
And the former US Open champion, who won the Quicken Loans National on the PGA Tour a fortnight ago, will now try to follow in the footsteps of Phil Mickelson by claiming a second major title in the Open at Hoylake.
Mickelson, who won at Castle Stuart 12 months ago before lifting the Claret Jug at Muirfield a week later, carded a closing 65 but only moved up six places to joint 11th on a day of low scoring at Royal Aberdeen.
With the course defenceless after rain throughout the morning and no wind, Rose took full advantage by storming to the turn in 31, moving three ahead of the field after sharing the overnight lead with Scot Marc Warren.
The 33-year-old, who moves from sixth in the world rankings to a joint career high of third, managed just one more birdie on the back nine but completed a flawless 65 to finish 16 under par, two ahead of Sweden's Kristoffer Broberg.
Rose had not played the event for the last two years but said: "I thought I would try and do a Phil this year and put it on my schedule. So far so good.
"I've won two in a row now so I've put the pressure on myself. There's no-one to blame but me. It's uncharted territory for me, I've never won two in a row before, never mind three.
"It's unbelievable to be back in the winners' circle so quickly but right now I am feeling great. I don't feel the two wins have taken a lot out of me. I feel that I've taken it in my stride.
"The Open is going to come around quickly so tonight is going to be calm and relaxed. I will enjoy the moment but my mind will definitely be back in the game as of tomorrow."
Asked if he had ever been in better form ahead of the Open, Rose added: "In 2010 you could argue I came in with as much form having won two events, but at the same time I was just beginning to play well then. Now I have been playing well for four or five years so am a lot more comfortable with the expectations this time around.
I don't feel the two wins have taken a lot out of me. I feel that I've taken it in my stride. The Open is going to come around quickly so tonight is going to be calm and relaxed. I will enjoy the moment but my mind will definitely be back in the game as of tomorrow.
"In the past I have been looking for something extra to get into contention but right now I am not chasing the next level, I am beginning to trust my game."
Broberg claimed one of the three qualifying places for Hoylake, with England's Tyrrell Hatton joint fourth and Scotland's Scott Jamieson joint eighth to take the others.
Jamieson charged through the field with a closing 64, while playing partner Stephen Gallacher went one better with a 63 that matched the course record set by Chile's Felipe Aguilar a few hours earlier.
Rory McIlroy's previous record of 64 was set on Thursday, just two hours after Broberg had established a new record with a 65 after going out in the first group at 6:30am.
McIlroy's closing 67 left him on seven under par - as he had been on Thursday evening - one shot behind Mickelson.
