• Memorial Tournament

Rose misses cut by one after self-called penalty

ESPN staff
May 31, 2014
Justin Rose: "I knew in my mind I was always one worse than the board" © Getty Images
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It appeared for a short time that Justin Rose had made the cut on the number by birdieing the final two holes at the Memorial Tournament.

But he knew better.

His iron shot into the signature par-three 12th hole in Friday's second round nestled into the deep, thick grass just over the green.

"It was one of the worst lies I've had for a while," Rose said. "Through the green and a shocking lie."

Rose, who won the Memorial four years ago, took a limited swing at the ball because he feared that he might hit it more than once.

"I actually tried it and I knew that double-hitting it was a possibility," he said. "So I tried to sort of leave the club there."

Still, he felt a second impact on the club after he first struck the ball. He knew immediately that he faced, at the very least, a one-stroke penalty.

So, he notified an official on the course and played on, the extra shot likely awaiting him. He wondered if he might have even hit the ball three times and was unsure what the penalty might be for that unlikely possibility.

He made two bogeys on the next four holes but birdied the final two holes, completing a one-under 71 that left him at even-par 144 - on the scoreboard, at least.

"Obviously, people were excited because I got back to even [par] because the scoreboard hadn't adjusted for the double-hit," he said. "I knew in my mind I was always one worse than the board, so that wasn't a surprise to me."

Rose said he couldn't remember ever hitting a ball twice with one swing.

"It's so alien," he said.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
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