DUBLIN, Ohio – When USGA executive director Mike Davis said earlier this year that players wouldn’t be able to follow the normal plan of simply showing up the week of the championship to prepare for this year’s U.S. Open at Chambers Bay, he had Justin Rose in mind.
When Rose won the 2013 U.S. Open he made an extended scouting trip to Merion beforehand and the added experience certainly paid off for the Englishman.
“I think Phil [Mickelson] also spent two or three days at Merion, as well. We were there at the same time and both of us obviously finished first and second,” said Rose, who took a three-stroke lead with a third-round 66 on Saturday at the Memorial.