Justin Rose
Get 20% off your bill at Pizza Express

E-mail your questions to Justin Rose here
Do you want to know how I celebrated my 68 and leading the Masters after 18 holes for the second year in succession? A beer perhaps? No. A cup of English breakfast tea and a Krispy Kreme doughnut. It is the British in me coming out I suppose.
When I look back on my first round I am delighted with the way I bounced back. I was not overly confident to be honest as I made my way to the 1st tee. My warm-up had been scratchy and I was having trouble getting the right speed with my putter. Then on the 1st hole I hit a poor tee shot that ended in a bunker and dropped a shot. The second hole is regarded as a birdie opportunity and using my 5 wood I hit my ball into a greenside bunker and didn't get up and down. On the 4th I missed a three-footer for par.
So you can imagine how I felt on the 5th tee. Four holes gone and two over par. That was the turning point, funny as it may seem. I gave myself a talking to. "Justin" I said "you've got a lot of golf to play. Make a birdie as quickly as you can." That is the classic response to a bad hole and it is what I always try and do. I also try and concentrate on giving myself a positive thought to look forward to. No need to dwell on what has just happened. It has gone. Forget it.
I wasn't immediately successful in that I parred the 5th but then I hit a 7-iron to within five feet of the downhil 6th and holed that slippery putt and I was off and running. I holed a 15-foot putt on the 7th and reached the uphill 8th in two, which I am not often able to do. It took a 300-yard drive and then a perfectly-flighted 3-wood shot that went nearly 260 yards. It started out to the right and drew in towards the opening to the green. On the 9th I hit a 9 iron to 20 feet and holed that and there I was, out in 34, two under par.
From then on I kept telling myself to stay in the present, not to get too far ahead of myself. I felt composed on the course and I know Nick, my coach, will be pleased with that. I didn't really notice Tiger in the group ahead of me. It is difficult playing ahead of Tiger because there are constant rushes of spectators from his match trying to get into position to see him hit to a green or drive. But playing behind him was a breeze. Kate said to me later that she had been able to watch me easily because the spectators had gone by the time she reached my ball.
I have a feeling that the greater challenge for the second round is going to be killing time until I leave for the course at midday ready for my 2.03 tee-time. I found killing time was difficult in 2004 when I had a tee-time of 2.40 but a large part of last year I played late so I am learning how to handle it.
The way I do it is to do the same as I normally would but take a little longer. Do things a little slower. Have a lie-in for half-an-hour and dally over breakfast for an extra 20 minutes, that sort of thing. If there is still time to kill then watch a movie. The secret is not to mope, not to allow the mind to think about the round, to keep the mind clear. Of course it's easier said than done!
Industry sectors news at a glance. Interactive heatmap, video and podcast
The inside track on current trends in the charity, not for profit and social enterprise sectors
Explore your passion for food with the delights of Thai, Indian & Chinese cooking
Read our exclusive 100 Years of Fleming and Bond interactive timeline, packed with original Times articles and reviews
Everything the Business Traveller needs to know to make a better trip

Find tickets for:
Shortcuts to help you find sections and articles
05/2005
£13,500
08/2008
£109,950
2006
£10,750
Great car insurance deals online
£100k
The National Skills Academy for Social Care
London
£49,229 - £62,035 pro rata
Charity Commission
London/Liverpool/Taunton
£75k - £85k
Confidential
London
Six Figure
Rolls Royce
Midlands/Europe
From £89,950
Great Investment, River Views
$3.5 million
Also avaliable for rent
Times Online Property Search will help you find it
Amazing Far East Offers - Visit Hong Kong
from £499pp
Cruise the Islands of Hawaii - Pride of America
List your property with two leading travel websites
Great travel insurance deals online
Contact our advertising team for advertising and sponsorship in Times Online, The Times and The Sunday Times, or place your advertisement.
Times Online Services: Dating | Jobs | Property Search | Used Cars | Holidays | Births, Marriages, Deaths
News International associated websites: Globrix | Property Finder | Milkround
Copyright 2008 Times Newspapers Ltd.
This service is provided on Times Newspapers' standard Terms and Conditions. Please read our Privacy Policy.To inquire about a licence to reproduce material from Times Online, The Times or The Sunday Times, click here.This website is published by a member of the News International Group. News International Limited, 1 Virginia St, London E98 1XY, is the holding company for the News International group and is registered in England No 81701. VAT number GB 243 8054 69.
An amazing insight into the mind of such an exciting talent. Justin seems so level headed and looks to have a steely determination this year and he talks like a winner... Let's hope so !!
John Wagstaff, Loughton, Englsnd
Great report Justin - keep going and good luck, yesterday made excellent viewing and the UK is behind you
Martin Williamson, Chelmsford, Essex