By Sarah Gwynn, europeantour.com
at Pinehurst
Last year’s US Open Championship victory may have given Justin Rose his first Major title, a huge sum of money and worldwide adulation, but even more special for the Englishman was the connection he felt with his late father.
Rose famously pointed to the skies as he remembered his dad when he triumphed at Merion 12 months ago, and fought back the tears when he acknowledged him in his winner’s speech. The fact it was fathers’ day made the moment all the more poignant.
As he prepares to defend his title over Pinehurst No.2 in North Carolina, the 33 year old said: “Fathers’ day was a bit of a downer before, watching friends of mine win the US Open and being able to embrace with their father. I always thought that was something I’ll never experience.
“But winning the US Open was amazing because I felt really connected to my dad in the moment. The fact he wasn't there didn't seem to matter to me, with my feelings. That's what I'm most grateful about, that connection, the ability it gave me to feel the presence of my dad once more.”
Another special moment for Rose when he returned to Merion with ten of his close friends, re-enacting his sublime four iron approach to the 18th green on the final day.
“We have a little tournament every year called the JR Challenge and it's been going for about ten years now,” he said. “We went to Merion and were all in the 18th fairway recreating my shot – not (Ben) Hogan's shot, but my shot.
“And as we were hitting into the 18th green, my trophy was by the pin and the club had put the same pin placement in for us that day. So all my friends could experience that and it was just a truly great moment.”
By his own admission Rose has spent a lot of time reflecting on his Merion victory, but once he began talking about his title defence at Pinehurst – what he calls a “pressure-free situation” – his enthusiasm was evident.
“I'm just really excited about the opportunity this week presents,” said Rose, who will attempt to become the first player since Curtis Strange in 1988-89 to successfully defend the US Open Championship. “It is only one guy who has the opportunity to repeat. These tournaments are so hard to win, I'm just going to enjoy the challenge of trying to do that.
“I haven't been one of the guys who have said they want to win X amount of Majors. Winning one has given me the ability to now free wheel for the rest of my career, play free, play loose, just go after it. I’ve got no pressure on me from that perspective anymore.”
If he is in contention on Sunday, however, he may face a tough decision over whether to watch England’s World Cup clash with Italy on Saturday night.
“At the Travelers Championship in 2010 I was leading by three going into Sunday and England were playing Germany in the last 16 of the World Cup,” he recalled with a smile. “It was an emotional football match at about 10 in the morning, I was playing at 2pm and I never really calmed down. I ended up going out and losing the golf tournament. So maybe I'll be a little bit more careful about my emotions watching the football this time.”
