'I'm getting pretty close'

Rose, 17, hints that jump to pros could come soon

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Posted: Saturday July 18, 1998 06:21 PM

Rose would not comment on reports that he planned to turn professional in time to appear in the Dutch Open next week (AP)

SOUTHPORT, England, July 18 (Reuters) -- Britain's latest sporting hero, 17-year-old golfer Justin Rose, hinted strongly on Saturday that his amateur days are numbered.

Rose, roared on by tens of thousands of supporters around the Royal Birkdale course on the third day of the British Open, will tee off in Sunday's final round just three shots behind leader Brian Watts.

After the success of 18-year-old soccer star Michael Owen at the World Cup earlier this month, the English have taken Rose to their hearts and elevated him to immediate superstar status.

The gawky youngster, well-known on the English youth golf circuit, said he came to the British Open to make up his mind about turning pro and had enjoyed himself immensely.

"This week was going to help me sort of make up my mind and weigh up the situation and see if I feel I'm ready and feel comfortable," he said.

"Looking at the way I've played and my name on the leader board, I guess I'm getting pretty close to making that decision."

He would not comment on reports that he planned to turn professional as soon as the Open finished and in time to appear in the Dutch Open next week.

Rose enjoyed himself immensely at the Royal Birkdale course as he partnered with Watts, shaking hands, exchanging high fives and grinning broadly as he sought to repeat Friday's performance, when he finished tied for second with Tiger Woods and Nick Price.

The 18-year-old dropped five shots on Saturday but Woods dropped seven and Price a massive 12 as all players struggled to cope with violent winds blasting across the exposed course.

"I felt I hung on quite nicely to that score," said Rose, who confessed to realizing that he had been the British Open leader for three holes on Saturday.

If he wins on Sunday, Rose will be the youngest winner of the British Open since Young Tom Morris won the title at age 17 years, 5 months, 8 days, 130 years ago. His father, known simply as Tom Morris, still holds the record for the oldest man to win the title (46 years, 99 days).

Rose did not let the pressure get to him on the links, saying he slept heavily on Friday night and that he felt like Jack Nicklaus as he walked up the 18th fairway to the acclamation of the parochial home crowd.

Winning the Open would take, "my best ever round, so it is going to take a monumental effort," he said, adding jokingly that fresh challenges would be tough to find if he did win.

"I guess then when I'm 18 you go on to win the Masters, and then the U.S. Open at 19 and 20, win the PGA," he joked.

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