Two journeys, one destination

There are two golfers tied for second at The 152nd Open. 

One is a major champion, an Olympic gold medallist, and a multiple Ryder Cup winner. 

The other is an Open debutant, whose best finish in his last eight competitions was 61st. 

They are Justin Rose and Daniel Brown and on the links of Royal Troon, they are equals. 

“We're probably much more aligned than we are different,” said Rose. “In the sense of going out there tomorrow, the mentality is going to be to enjoy it, to do well.

“To be as free as you can with it, to give yourself the best opportunity to play well, to embrace the fun part of it and the childhood dream part of it. 

“From that point of view, I think it's pretty similar.” 

Brown woke up on Friday after a surprisingly good night’s sleep. The North Yorkshireman was unbelievably calm despite spending the night as The Open’s outright leader. 

He has since been overtaken by the 2019 Champion Golfer Shane Lowry, who sits two ahead of Brown and Rose on seven-under-par.

But Brown is not concerned. His glances at the course’s big yellow scoreboards are accidental, he is only focusing on playing the hole in front of him. 

It is an approach you cannot fault, after an opening bogey-free 65, he rode trickier conditions to a one-over 73 on Friday. 

“I was trying to rein myself in a little bit after yesterday's score. I went out there knowing it was a lot windier, and 72, 73, 74 actually wasn't too bad,” he said.

“It was certainly three or four shots harder, even the front nine played a lot harder. 

“And then the back [nine], you would think going back downwind it would make it easier, but it is so firm that it was a proper struggle to try and hold onto some of the greens. 

“I grew up playing parkland golf where it is soft and very green with plenty of trees, so it is a lot different.  

“Growing up, my amateur career involved a lot of links golf, but I have had a bit of time away from the links scene. 

“I have come back to it and feel comfortable again.” 

Rose is different in his manner – he has been around for so many years that he knows he may as well enjoy it. 

The Silver Medal winner from 1998 is appearing in his 21st Open and it is not lost on Rose that he had to make it through Final Qualifying to be at the major that means so much to him. 

He posted the equal-low round of 68 at Royal Troon, ending with a superb 41-foot putt for birdie to move into the tie for second. 

And on that final green, he stopped to take it all in. 

Rose said: “That was such a fun way to finish. Obviously I celebrated, and there was the realisation I didn't have to hit another shot. 

“I could really ... let my guard down and enjoy the day because it was a really hardworking, good round of golf.  

“To finish that way was obviously special with the crowds, being a fairly full grandstand [on] Friday afternoon. It was really good to enjoy that one.” 

Brown also made it to the Championship through Final Qualifying, doing so with a putt from 20 feet at West Lancashire. 

It was another step on the comeback from a knee injury that was threatening to derail his season with six missed cuts in his last eight starts. 

He knew the results would come and, boy, is it coming at Royal Troon. 

The one-time winner on the DP World Tour has his brother Ben as his caddie to add to the special occasion. 

Brown, who usually goes by Dan, has spent years being confused for the author of the same name. 

He is hoping that is about to change. 

He added: “I've had that a lot. Yeah, the whole Da Vinci Code and all that kind of thing. 

“Hopefully, I can start making a bit of a name for myself, and people will say that to him, are you the golfer?”