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Open Championship 2014: Justin Rose says he is not thinking of Hoylake as a 'home' major

Justin Rose
Image: Justin Rose will bid for his third victory in a row this week

Home hope Justin Rose says he is trying to deflect the pressure ahead of the Open Championship at Hoylake.

Last year’s US Open hero is seen as having a great chance of becoming a British winner at the historic tournament this week, having made it two wins in his last two tournaments at the Scottish Open on Sunday.

But the 33-year-old says he will be treating the event as just another major this time, as he seeks to improve on his fairly poor Open record.

"I've tried to see it as my home major (before) and I am not paying attention to that now," said Rose. "A major is a major.

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"If Tiger is playing the US Open, he doesn't think, 'This is my home major'. It's just another major championship.

“From that perspective, I am just trying to deflect any extra pressure.”

Since finishing fourth in the 1998 Open as a 17-year-old amateur, Rose has not managed to secure another top-10 finish, and he has missed the cut in three of the last four years.

But he is adamant he has the game to win this week, adding: “Although my recent Open record is not good, I do take confidence from Turnberry in 2009, for example.

In the hunt

"Even though the record book won't suggest it (he finished 13th that year), I was right in the hunt there.

“I played beautiful golf that week, good enough to win, and I know that.

“There have been a few occasions where I've had good runs and a few occasions where I've been on the bad side of the draw.

"If you go out and play wonderful golf you can make up for the draw but, if you are sort of borderline, the draw can make a big difference too.

“I am trying not to pay too much attention to it (his Open record). I have played great links golf in my career at different times, so I just have to put it all together."

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