Philadelphia, PA ….
Justin Rose’s love affair with ‘The City of Brotherly Love’ continues after a rousing 63 on day two of the BMW Championship in Philadelphia.
Rose stormed his way to second place at 11-under par thanks to seven birdies on the Aronimink course located some seven miles from where he captured the 2013 U.S. Open at Merion.
Rose’s round is also his lowest Tour score in three years since two similar 63s late in his 2015 season.
Justin Rose captures the 2013 US Open at nearby Merion GC
“I’m delighted with that,” said Rose. “No mistakes out there. Actually, no, no mistakes in the scorecard and while there were still some mistakes out there, I managed to save myself.
“I guess also there must be something in the water around here for sure as I just play well in Philly
“The crowd latched on to it for sure. I get good support around here. Nice when they’re reminding you all the time that it’s your town, as well.
“I like to come here and play well. It’s nice to have the added extra bit of enthusiasm from the crowd.”
And Rose was clearly pleased when his adopted NFL side, the Philadelphia Eagles and last year’s Superbowl champs, won Thursday night’s season-opener against the visiting Atlanta Falcons.
“Every year I pick a team and this year I might have to go with the Eagles,” he said smiling. “I know you were with the Falcons. I’m jumping on the bandwagon while I’m in Philly, for sure.”
Rose ignited his quest for a third Tour win this year, and also a week after finishing runner-up in Boston, with a great short stick display of just 26 putts.
American Xander Schauffele boosted hopes not only of defending next fortnight’s Tour Championship crown but also securing the last place into the USA Ryder Cup team with a 64 for a two-shot lead.
Schauffele, 24 capped his round with four birdies in his opening seven holes for a 13-under par and with Tour officials opting for early tee-times ahead of predicted afternoon storms
He arrived in Philly lying 41st on the FedEx Cup points table and needing to finish among the to-30 this week and now is projected to jump to sixth.
“It was nice to back up the 63 with a 64, something I’ve never done in my career so good timing for that,” he said.
And a Schauffele win would sure tip the scales in his favour to next Monday be handed the last USA Team wildcard pick.
Both Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, who shared the first-round lead thanks to 62s, struggled with Woods bogeying his last two holes in a 70 to drop to a share of 10th place at eight-under.
“Very simple today as I didn’t make any putts,” said Woods in a round that included 33 putts and six more than a day earlier.
McIlroy again struggled with his putter and managing three birdies in a 69 to be at nine-under.
