Two journeys, one dream

It is the one they all want to win.

Every player, world-class professional or happy-go-lucky amateur, has imagined each step of the greatest walk in golf, of holding the Claret Jug and of being crowned Champion Golfer of the Year.

To win The Open is to be part of something timeless. And for Justin Rose and Adam Scott, two veterans in their mid-40s who have seen it all and almost done it all, it's a dream that never dies.

Born just two weeks apart, Rose and Scott are united in many ways. They both have one major title and many stories of further near-misses – especially at The Open.

They have both suffered mid-career dips in form, only to regain their focus and desire to win the biggest prize in golf, and arrive at Royal Portrush this week as serious contenders.

If either of them do it, they will become the oldest winner of The Open since Old Tom Morris in 1867.

Rose, who turns 45 in a fortnight, first played here in 1998 and so nearly won, a fearless 17-year-old amateur in an oversized blood-red jumper. Ironically had he done so, he would have been the second youngest winner – with only Young Tom Morris’ 1868 success pipping him.

Instead, he finished T4 to win the Silver Medal and, after a rocky start period in his early 20s, has delivered on the promise he showed that week in a 28-year professional career.

He is a US Open winner, a former world No.1, an 11-time winner on the PGA Tour and six-time Ryder Cup player. But it’s The Open he still craves.

In 2018, at the peak of his powers, Rose was T2 at Carnoustie - and that after surviving the halfway cut with nothing to spare.

Last year, his ranking had fallen so low he needed to come through Final Qualifying just to make it to The 152nd Open. He then almost pulled off a fairytale story, but was beaten by two shots by Champion Golfer Xander Schauffele.

Instead of crushing the dream, it reinforced it.

“If I look back at Royal Troon, I think I played as good a golf as anybody for the whole entire week,” he said.

“I think I probably played through some of the tougher conditions in terms of Saturday afternoon was brutal. I got the worst of it there. I really felt I hung in, so it was good resilience I felt like I showed that week.

“I felt like I went out and I shot the second lowest score of the day on Sunday. Obviously I got beaten by Xander who played an amazing round of golf, and we were kind of toe-to-toe right through the round until he had a golden half an hour where he stretched away, and that was it.

“I had everything available to me to win. That does kind of keep you believing and obviously that gives me a lot of hope coming back into this week and future Opens, as well.”

While Rose has four Open top-10 finishes to his name, at the Masters he has seven – including three runners-up finishes and, after this year, two defeats in a play-off.

Rose was outstanding at Augusta in April and shot a last-day 66 to force a play-off with Rory McIlroy, but was ultimately beaten on the first extra hole.

He has missed the cut at the PGA Championship and US Open but feels ready at Royal Portrush this week.

“As a kid, on the putting green since I've been playing the game since probably age eight, I've been dreaming about winning The Open,” he said.

“1998 obviously was a fairytale story and ending to my amateur career, and really the next place from there was to go ahead and try to win it, obviously.

“I've been close a couple times, but it's an incredible tournament, like I said. As a British player, it's been the one that I've dreamed about winning and holed the putt many times in my mind.

“I think there's a lot of birdie opportunities on this course as well. It does give up some birdies. I think you need to be positive.

“You need to go out there, as tough as it is in places, you do have to get on the front foot and maybe there's certain holes you need to take advantage on. It’s a great mix.”

By the time Rose approaches the back nine on Thursday, alongside Robert MacIntyre and Bryson DeChambeau as one of the afternoon's Featured Groups, Scott will likely be finishing his round.

Like his rival, Scott is a former world number one. He is also a Masters champion, and 20-time top-10 finisher in majors.

Unlike Rose, he is the author of one of the most infamous near-misses in Open history. He led by four shots with four holes to go in 2012 but bogeyed all of them, and lost to Ernie Els by one.

The Australian, once a near-constant feature towards the top of major leaderboards, suffered a dip in form around the turn of the decade but has since rebounded.

He finished T10 at Royal Troon last year and was in contention at last month’s US Open, where he was in the final group on Sunday before fading in the final few holes.

Longer off the tee than ever before, he knows time is ebbing away but is determined to throw every last ounce of energy he has at winning The Open.

“Time’s ticking away, so I’d say this week’s my best chance,” he told Australian Golf Digest.

“It’s going to be my best chance, given that I’m only going to get older and it’s going to be most likely harder.

“So I’ve put myself in a good spot, which I’m really pleased about and optimistic and hopeful, and still think the dream can come true.”

If either Rose or Scott lift the Claret Jug on Sunday, it will be one of the greatest stories in this Championship’s rich history.