Rose rejects par-three jinx theory

Justin Rose
3 April 2012

Justin Rose is not worried about possible jinxes or bad omens as he builds up to the Masters this week.

If the chance comes to win the eve-of-tournament par-three competition at Augusta National on Wednesday, Rose will be trying to take it - just like Luke Donald did last April and Padraig Harrington did two years in a row. The pitch-and-putt fun event was introduced in 1960 and nobody has ever gone on to become Masters champion four days later.

Raymond Floyd came closest when he lost a play-off to Nick Faldo in 1990, while Donald was joint fourth. Rose, whose world championship victory in Miami four weeks ago has given him the belief that a first major title may not be very far away, said: "Someone is going to do it one year."

He added: "I'm not one for superstitions and I think it's an old wives' tale. If I'm leading with a hole to play I'll be going for it."

Rose loves the fact that Rory McIlroy's return to the course where he collapsed with an 80 last year and Tiger Woods winning at Bay Hill a fortnight ago has enabled him to slip more quietly into Augusta.

"I'm nicely under the radar - I like it," Rose told Press Association Sport as he headed for the practice range.

As for whether Woods, McIlroy or Donald - he is world number one, after all - should be favourite for the week the 31-year-old had a neat answer. He said: "I think Sean Foley is the favourite."

Foley is coach to Woods, Rose and to Hunter Mahan, who had his second victory of the season in the Houston Open this weekend.

"Sean has done a lot for me, but so have a lot of people. From a technical point of view I have so many more shots and understand so much more.

"Knowledge is power and coming down the stretch it's got to help to know what you need to do to try to eliminate possible mistakes. But you've still got to deal with the pressure, the fans and all the stuff that goes on in the heat of a big event."

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