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Rose: Open bigger than Woods

Rose: Open bigger than Woods

07/12/2010 06:33:07 PM

pair will tee off with Colombian Camilo Villegas at 9.09am in the first round, just ahead of 60-year-old Tom Watson - the incredible runner-up to Stewart Cink last year, of course - twice champion Padraig Harrington and 18-year-old Japanese star Ryo Ishikawa.

As for new US Open champion Graeme McDowell, he has to wait until just before 2pm and plays with two former winners of that title, Jim Furyk and Australian Geoff Ogilvy.

That is the group behind Lee Westwood, third last year and third in the world, Aussie Adam Scott and Miguel Angel Jimenez.

At 2.20pm Colin Montgomerie, second to Woods five years ago, starts alongside Retief Goosen and Masters champion Phil Mickelson, who needs a top four finish to have a chance of taking the world No.1 spot from Woods.

World Match Play champion Ian Poulter, a good friend of Rose, believes being paired with Woods will work in the Englishman's favour.

"I think it will be a good thing for Justin given the way he's handled himself the last three tournaments he's played. He should have won all three," Poulter said.

"I think if you look at the intensity that's going to be around that group, it's going to be great. It will make Justin focus even harder than he does already, which I think will be a good thing, so I would expect Justin to come out pretty hot."

Asked if playing with Woods was still the distraction it once was, Poulter added: "I think we have our own pressures and expectations to look out for."

"I personally don't care who I play golf with. I'm pretty single-minded when I get on the first tee, I'm not really interested in who I'm playing with, I'm interested in hitting the shot where I need to hit it and I'm not interested in anything else."

 
Photograph Copyright : Getty Images
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