JUSTIN ROSE TARGETS OPEN GLORY AT ROYAL TROON AFTER SHOWING OFF NEW 'FIREPOWER' IN QUALIFIER TRIUMPH

Justin Rose believes he is a contender to win The Open Championship at Royal Troon after a classy performance in final qualifying on Tuesday.

The 2013 US Open champion and former world No. 1 has slipped to 66th in the rankings after a frustrating season, with a tie for sixth at the PGA Championship at Valhalla in May by far his best result of the campaign.

But he showed his mettle as the star name in the field at Burnham and Berrow in Somerset, finishing in a tie for first at eight-under-par with Cambridge amateur Dominic Clemons.

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It is somewhat farcical that a member of the Ryder Cup team that was victorious in Rome in October did not have an exemption for his home major, but the 11-time PGA Tour winner showed no arrogance that playing in a qualifier was beneath him – unlike some of the LIV Golf stars who have been locked out of the majors in recent years.

The relief was palpable as the 43-year-old pumped his fist when he carded a closing par on his 36th hole of the day, acknowledging a healthy crowd that followed him throughout the day. And after punching his ticket for the 152nd Open, he sees no reason why he cannot be the man lifting the Claret Jug on July 21.

“We took it seriously,” he told Mirror Sport. “I want to be at The Open; I still believe I can win The Open so it was an important day to get through for me.

“It’s been a couple of added bonus rounds now I’m through. You don’t want to do this day, it’s a hard day and with only four spots you have to play well no matter how good of a player you are.

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“This golf course doesn’t know if you’re Justin Rose or whoever you might be, you’ve got to go out there and put two good rounds together. There is a bit of added pressure to turn up here with a bit of crowd support, which is nice, but it definitely makes you feel it.”

Amid the disappointments of this season, which has seen five missed cuts and just one top-10 finish, Rose has had more time to hone his craft. The fruits of his labours – which have added untapped “firepower” to his arsenal – were evident in the face of the bitter wind rolling in off the Bristol Channel as evening closed in.

A three-quarter 2-iron back into the teeth on the par-five fourth, setting up a tap-in birdie, was simply sublime as it pierced the gales and Rose’s short game was flawless throughout. His drives were significantly longer and more accurate than playing partners Chris Wood and Jovan Rebula, too.

Rose’s day did not lack adversity, with his tee shot on the par-four 12th declared lost in the long grass despite an army of spotters searching for it. A double bogey was carded, but he fought back immediately with two birdies in the ensuing three holes to ensure his place at The Open, three shots clear of the chasing pack.

“I’ve been seeing a lot of good signs in my game on the range and this year I have been doing stuff I’ve never been able to do on the range with ball speeds, distances, carries and those sorts of things,” he added.

“I’ve got a lot of firepower that I haven’t been able to make the most of [until now]. And my short game, honestly… If I can keep my short game like it was here, that will be really helpful. The rest of it, it’s just about dealing with links golf.”

Rose and Clemons qualified alongside LIV Golf star Abraham Ancer and Swedish youngster Charlie Lindh at Burnham and Berrow. But it was a very different day for Rose’s former Ryder Cup ally Graeme McDowell at Royal Cinque Ports in Kent. The Northern Irishman missed out on a place in a playoff by three strokes after finishing at one-over.

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