Justin Rose determined not to wilt in Harford

Newly-crowned US Open champion Justin Rose’s self- belief helped him make his breakthrough into golf’s elite but he admits he is unsure just how he will perform this week.

The 32-year-old tees off today in the Travelers Championship, a regulation PGA Tour event, just four days after holding four-time major champion Phil Mickelson at bay during a tense final round at Merion.

He insists he never had a second thought about playing in this tournament but having not eaten or slept properly since Sunday, having undertaken various media obligations, he is aware he may experience something of a performance hangover in Harford.

“This week is going to be ‘Let’s wait and see how I play’,” he said. “I have to be lenient on myself from that perspective. My game is in good shape and we’ll see how it carries through.

“I think adrenaline can get you through, especially if you get off to a good start because you can get on the leaderboard and then start to focus on winning.

“I am aware it can go the other way and I have to be a bit easy on myself, but I am still expecting to go out there and put in a good performance.

“The same disciplines which applied at the US Open still apply this week and my goal is to be as sharp as I can mentally while looking forward to a slight breather from a scoring point of view.”

Rose has had little chance to recharge his batteries due to a whistle-stop media tour to New York on his way to Connecticut.

“Last night was the first time I’d had a chance to see the kids [four-year-old Leo and Lottie, one],” he added. “I made Sunday about my father [Ken, who died in 2002] but the fact I am a dad as well meant I was really looking forward to seeing my kids.”