• The Open

Rose not fazed by Tiger pairing

Justin Rose is expecting to share a joke or two with Tiger Woods at Royal Lytham © Getty Images

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Justin Rose is confident he can cope with the distraction of playing alongside Tiger Woods at The Open this week.

The Englishman has been paired with Woods for a fourth time at The Open, where he will play alongside the three-time champion and Spain's Sergio Garcia for the first two days at Royal Lytham.

While Rose admitted he initially struggled to cope with the hype that goes with the 14-time major champion, he is now comfortable with playing alongside the former world No. 1.

"Tiger has been on tour a long time now and a lot of guys have had a chance to play with him regularly," he said. "No doubt there was a time when it was not necessarily a great draw but it has settled down a little bit and you get used to it.

"At first you are out of your comfort zone but if you get into a nice bubble and you are playing well all that goes away - but if you are struggling you notice more of that so it is up to me to go out there, get into a good rhythm and play well.

"I've won some big tournaments, played in some big tournaments and been at the highest end of the game for a while now. You get more and more comfortable and have confidence in yourself and that ultimately is what makes it easier."

Rose, who shot to fame as an amateur when he finished in a tie for fourth at the 1998 Open, believes the home crowd will also help to neutralise the Woods effect. He added: "For me the Open Championship is more of a level playing field than playing with him in the States from how the crowd feel."

While Rose expects Woods to have his "game face" on, he does anticipate some interaction on the course.

"I have always said Tiger is a really good playing partner because he is complimentary on good shots and is willing to have conversations," Rose said. "He really is a lot more easy-going on the course than a lot of other guys, to be honest.

"No doubt he is single-minded and there won't be a lot going on but there will be moments when you have a laugh and a joke about something as we have a bit more in common these days. With him, majors are what he is about and it is what he has been doing for the last 10 years.

"These events for him are big, as they are for all of us, and he will definitely have his game face on and we won't be chin-wagging all the way around - that is not how I play my game either. I am easy-going and fairly relaxed but at the same time we are going about our business.

"It is amazing how guys will do their own thing and there is no real sociable hanging out and relaxing. You don't see Tiger a lot at the venue and he seems to turn up straight from the car park to the range. There won't be an atmosphere either way, it won't be good, it won't be bad."

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