Justin Rose’s Open ‘dream’ shattered as he digs out bad advice from coaches

Heartbreak and Triumph: The Tale of Justin Rose and Chris Wood at Royal Troon

Justin Rose demonstrated pure class as he qualified for The Open at Royal Troon with a stellar performance on Tuesday. However, the joy of his achievement was overshadowed by his deep disappointment for his old friend, Chris Wood.

 

Bristol-born Wood was once a rising star in the world of golf. His early career was marked by impressive accomplishments, including winning the silver medal at The Open in 2008 at Royal Birkdale by finishing fifth as the low amateur. A year later, he secured a third-place finish at Turnberry in his first season as a professional, solidifying his status as one of the brightest young talents in the game.

 

Wood’s career continued to reach new heights, peaking in 2016 with a victory at the prestigious BMW Championship at Wentworth. However, the years that followed have been less kind. Wood, who was once ranked 22nd in the world, has seen his ranking plummet to 1664th. This season, he has predominantly played on the Challenge Tour, struggling to regain his former glory.

 

At 36, Wood was bidding for his first appearance at The Open since 2019, paired alongside Rose for Tuesday’s final qualifier at Burnham and Berrow – a course close to his North Somerset roots. Wood started strong, positioning himself among the top four qualifiers heading to Scotland, reaching five-under-par early in his second and final round.

 

But disaster struck at the par-five eighth hole. Wood’s drive veered to the right, landing in a dense patch of tall grass and bushes. The crowd, filled with goodwill, joined the search party, hoping to find Wood’s ball. Among them was Rose, visibly devastated as the referee declared the ball lost after the allotted three minutes. “F*** sake,” Rose muttered, sharing in the heartbreak of his friend.

 

To make matters worse, Wood’s provisional tee shot landed in a fairway bunker, forcing him to pitch out and attempt to save bogey from the fairway. His putt missed the cup, resulting in a double bogey that derailed his qualification bid. Wood ultimately finished tied for 28th at two-over.

 

In stark contrast, Rose completed his round at eight-under-par, tying for first place with Cambridge amateur Dominic Clemons, and securing his trip to Scotland later this month. Despite his success, Rose’s thoughts were with Wood. “My dream scenario would have been both of us qualifying today,” Rose told Mirror Sport. “Chris has been through a lot in the past five years, and it probably feels even longer for him. But I saw good signs in his game today.”

 

Rose expressed optimism for Wood’s future, highlighting his hard work and resilience. “I think he’s working hard and I think he’s coming out of it. It’s hard when you have that home support, and there’s a lot of pressure to do yourself proud. But Chris stood up and hit a lot of good golf shots.”

 

Rose believes Wood is on the right path, with the support of a good coach who is keeping things simple. “Unfortunately, Chris may have fallen victim to receiving the wrong advice from the wrong coach at the wrong time. It’s amazing how you can get yourself in a muddle. But I think he’s digging his way out of it.”

 

As Rose prepares for The Open, his heart remains with his friend. The story of their day at Burnham and Berrow is a poignant reminder of the highs and lows of professional golf, and the unbreakable bonds forged on the fairways.