2011 Transitions Championship: Justin Rose Shoots Second 65 to Take Lead

With two victories on the PGA Tour, Justin Rose no longer has to overcome questions of how he will perform in the final round. 

“Lit up the back nine yesterday and came out today and it was much the same feeling,” he said. “I think I’ve had two runs of four birdies in a row which is obviously pretty rare, back-to-back days or back-to-back nines.”  

Rose had six birdies in the round and no bogeys. He finished well with a birdie on the final hole.

“It’s nice to go out there and not sort of be trying to find—tinkering around with too many swing keys,” he said. “My goal for the next couple of weeks was to whittle it down to something very simple heading to Augusta.”  Sunday, he said, would be a challenge to keep things that way.  

“You get into a situation like this, there’s more at stake, but that mind set pays off even more, so if I can continue to think that way, that’s the way I’ve got to go out and deal with tomorrow.”

Rose does not have a number in mind to assure victory on Sunday.

“Every day I just try to commit to my process. My goal is to be as good as I can be, and if that means I shoot 65 and win by five, then it’s a good day,” he added. “And if it means that I have to gut it out and be as good as I can be on a scratchy day and win by one, I’m fine with that.”

Having two PGA Tour victories in 2010, The Memorial and the AT&T National, he agreed, would give him important experience to draw upon during Sunday’s round.

“As I said last year, it was nice, every time you get in contention now to not have the question of, so, is this going to be the week that you break through.  When you do deal with those questions, it makes getting into contention early in the week a very long week.”

Friday leaders fired and then fell back, but Nick Watney who posted 66 the first round, fired a  65 and was back in contention, two shots back of Rose.   

“I don’t know if it was a letdown or tired or what, but just very flat, very sloppy all day.” Watney said about his second round score.  “Today was just completely different as far as energy level.”  

After winning at Doral, which was a stressful but successful week for him, the restful evening he had on Friday may have been just was what he needed. 

“I didn’t know I was going to shoot six under, but yeah, I just felt much better,” he admitted.

His round could have been lower.  He had an unplayable on the third hole, hitting into bushes.  He was not able to get to the ball to hit it.  However, he feels he is still utilizing the momentum he built with his recent victory.

“I just feel good with my game,” he said. “I’m feeling more and more comfortable, kind of in the heat of it and having a good time.”

Also in contention are Brendon de Jonge, Webb Simpson, rookie Scott Stallings and Gary Woodland.