DUBLIN — Justin Rose is 27 years old and a veteran of 10 professional seasons.
But he may be best remembered for a fourth-place finish at the British Open as a 17-year-old amateur in 1998. Rose, who lives in England, recently returned to Royal Birkdale for the first time since bursting onto the scene.
“It was just time for me to get what happened 10 years ago out of my system, so when I get there in July I can get down to business,” he said Thursday after a 4-under-par 68 in the first round of the Memorial Tournament. “It was an unbelievable week. It was flying by the seat of your pants.
“It was nice to get back and reminisce a little bit.”
Rose visited Birkdale because it will host the British Open in July. He played with Adam Scott.
“I really enjoyed the golf course,” Rose said. “I didn’t remember a lot of it, to be honest, after 10 years and they made about 17 changes to the golf course.”
Rose was even par on his front nine Thursday (he started on No. 10), then shot 4 under coming in.
“It was probably one of the most enjoyable rounds of golf I’ve had this year, just weather-wise and the course is in superb condition,” he said.
Rose holed a sand wedge for an eagle on the 401-yard third hole. He’s three shots behind leader Mathew Goggin.

Frustrating finish

Muirfield Village saved its hardest for last.
No. 18 played as the most difficult hole, with an average of 4.55. The 444-yard par 4 was the site of numerous horror stories with its front pin placement tucked between a pair of bunkers.
“It’s a treacherous pin placement,” Kenny Perry said.
Chad Campbell skipped his approach through the green and into a bunker. His downhill sand shot to a front pin rolled off the green and well down the fairway. He chipped up and two-putted for a double bogey.
Shaun Micheel putted a 40-footer off the green and 40 yards down the slope. Justin Bolli had a birdie putt, knocked it off the green and needed two chips for a triple bogey.
“The average golfer just can’t even grasp how hard that hole is,” said Brett Quigley, who shot 67.

No worries

Phil Mickelson, fresh off a win last week at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, shot an even-par 72. He wasn’t complaining about being six shots off the lead.
“I knew today was going to be the tough day for me,” he said. “I was kind of tired and didn’t get a chance to rest and get ready.”
Mickelson flew home to San Diego on Monday, then took a red-eye flight to New York for an outing Tuesday. He arrived in Columbus late Tuesday and played the pro-am Wednesday.
He had a morning tee time Thursday and will tee off in the afternoon today.
“Now I’ve got an opportunity to work on my game and be ready for the last three rounds,” he said. “So I was just going into this round trying to hang in there.”

Perez peeved

Pat Perez is known around the PGA Tour for his hot temper. It was on display again for anyone hanging around the sixth green.
He missed an 8-foot birdie putt and let out a curse word loud enough for the crowd to hear. After making his par, he threw his putter toward his caddie.
Perez was still steaming after a drive on No. 7, so he swung the driver backward, then tossed it toward his golf bag.
He bogeyed the par-5 seventh and finished at 2 under.

Chip-ins

Robert Allenby didn’t let a rough start ruin his round. He double-bogeyed Nos. 2 and 4, but recovered to shoot 3-under 69, which included a bogey on No. 18.
• Sergio Garcia made five birdies, but double-bogeyed his last hole, No. 9, to shoot even par.
• Tournament founder and host Jack Nicklaus was spotted driving a golf cart around the course early in the day. Mickelson was asked his first thought when it comes to Nicklaus.
“Best of all time,” Mickelson said. “Maybe not for long, but he’s the best of all time.”
Contact Scott Petrak at 329-7253 or spetrak@chroniclet.com.
 

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