With two milestones in sight, Justin is not just relaxing
DUBAI — Justin Rose is in line for his career’s first three in a row European Tour titles as well as second chance to emerge at the top of the Tour but the Englishman doesn’t see that opportunity as pressure going into the fourth day of the DP World Tour Championship.
“Yeah, an opportunity, that’s the way I’m going to look at it,” he said about possibility of him achieving two milestones on Sunday at The Earth Course.
“Don’t see much pressure on myself tomorrow (Sunday). This is going to be a day just to go for it really and play well,” he clarified after carding 65 on day three to take sole lead at the top of the crowded leaderboard.
“It’s not going to be the kind of day where, say, ten years ago when I had a big lead just try to hang on,” he said recollecting his first Order of Merit title in 2007 when he was a runaway leader going into the final tournament of the season. “It’s not going to be that kind of day tomorrow. There’s going to be a lot of good players and it’s going to be a day where you have to play good golf.”
Talking about excellent course conditions, he said: “The course was obviously there for the taking. We played in very calm conditions and wind only picked up really the second shot on the last hole. I heeled my 5-wood, should have been a good number for me. Just hit on the heel, spun up and came down in the water.”
“Good round of golf, really enjoyed playing with Jon (Rahm). A lot of birdies out there and it’s going to be more of the same tomorrow,” he reckons.
“Chipped it, pitched it really well today,” he said explaining his day out on the Jumeirah Golf Estate. “I have this new high-toe wedge in play and it’s been really good this week. Kept me out of a bit of trouble, actually. I think the highlight was the pitch on — well, chipped in on 13, and the pitch on 14 was one you’re almost trying to keep out of the water but got it coming in soft,” he revealed.
“So, I kind of capitalised on some of the par 5s when I’ve been around the green and then saved myself when I’ve been off the green. Short game has been really sharp. Putted better than yesterday. When I looked at yesterday’s round, there were ten opportunities I felt I didn’t take yesterday, one way or another. Today was a bit sharper.”
With everything online tomorrow, how would he mentally prepare? “I see myself as a leader, but I see it as a one-shot thing. Is there much point putting too much pressure on yourself when you’re one ahead of a tightly-packed leaderboard, it’s about playing good golf tomorrow,” he remarked.
He said that there were no plans going into the final day of play. “With a one-shot lead, there’s no strategy. It’s just about playing well tomorrow. Obviously that starts now. That starts resting up this evening. That starts with the recovery that I need to do to come out and be sharp and fresh tomorrow,” he reiterated.