It's thorny for Rory as Rose blossoms!

JUSTIN Rose believes he still has enough in the tank to win the Open after a two-under-par first round put him in early contention on the opening day at Royal Troon.

- CARL MARKHAM

The Englishman turns 44 in a fortnight but since coming fourth on debut as an amateur in 1998 he has only once bettered that finish, as a runner-up six years ago.

He had to qualify to make it into this year's event and admits that has made him appreciate his appearance in Ayrshire this week.

But now he is here, he is determined not to allow the opportunity to go to waste as he knows his chances of adding to his solitary major at the 2013 US Open are diminishing.

"It's a little bit of a ticking clock. It's obvious, isn't it? (I'm) 44 soon and history would suggest (winning is less likely) England's Justin Rose but I think the Open offers you that opportunity maybe more than some of the other majors," he said.