Justin Rose’s Remarkable Comeback at PGA Championship
NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. — Looking at it from any angle, Justin Rose’s participation in the third round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink on Saturday raised eyebrows.
Starting the day at 5-over, Rose had to pull off an eagle by chipping in on the par-5 ninth hole of Friday’s second round just to make the cut at 4-over.
Surprisingly, he seized that opportunity, firing a 5-under 65—one of the standout rounds of the tournament. He finished the round at 2 under and found himself only four strokes behind the leader, Alex Smalley.
“I felt a little freer,” Rose remarked about his mindset after making the cut. It really allowed me to dig deeper into my game during Saturday’s round, and I truly enjoyed that chance.”
He really turned things around, making four consecutive birdies on holes 3, 4, 5, and 6, leading to a front-nine score of 30.
“Getting off to a good start was crucial for me today,” he said. “The conditions this morning were great. I managed to get the ball into play early and hit some really nice iron shots—something I struggled with in the first two days.”
At 45, this 30-stroke front was notable, marking just the fourth such occurrence in his major tournament history.
Since 2000, Rose is only the fourth player over 45 to post a score of 30 or lower on either nine holes in a major championship.
“I was really pleased with how I made adjustments overnight, working on some things before heading to the course,” he added. “I’m glad those changes paid off immediately.”
Recently, Rose has switched to irons from McLaren Golf, a decision that has drawn some skepticism since he’s the brand’s first global ambassador.
“I’ve struggled the last few weeks; that’s just how it is,” he noted, not looking to blame his equipment. “When you’re playing poorly, it doesn’t matter what you’re using. I have confidence in my experience and enjoy the process. I try to focus on the details.”
As he made his way down the seventh fairway, he quipped with his caddy, Mark “Hooch” Fulcher, saying, “Just like that, I’m one under par in the tournament, and a few holes ago, I was five over!”
He jokingly suggested they never expected he’d rise to seventh place at seven under in the tournament.
Currently sitting at 2 under, he finds himself in a position to potentially capture his second major title, having finished second in this area after winning the 2013 U.S. Open at nearby Merion.
“Merion will always hold a special place in my heart. I try to return there once a year; it’s truly one of my favorite venues,” he reflected.
