Funai Classic Round Three: Justin Rose is the Tim Henman of golf - discuss

One sentence among today’s reports sums it up. “Rose took only five holes and 90 minutes to fritter away his four-shot lead.” My only caveat would be with the word “fritter". I would go more for chuck, blast maybe, hurl, or even toss - mmmmmm that one sounds particularly appropriate.

Justin Rose’s surrender was so total and abject he should consider taking Italian citizenship. Basically he has 18 holes left to avoid being indelibly dubbed the Tim (anyone for tennis?) Henman of golf - a gallant but perennial English loser.

It’s not my pocket talking because I have actually done alright on him this week. It’s not even my pride, being made to look foolish for even thinking, let alone saying he would win. I’ve made worse mistakes and there are far better golf judges than I whose selections this week have already packed up and headed for the hills.

It is pure frustration that someone who clearly has the talent cannot get a grip of his mind enough to take his game to that higher level. It should be Rose - absolutely cast-iron SHOULD be Rose - who is on the verge of his second PGA win in the space of a few weeks, not back-to-back aspirant Troy Matteson. Not to take it away from Matteson, because he clearly has the mental toughness Rose lacks.

Yes, we all have our horror days. No one could better commiserate with Rose today than his playing partner Davis Love III, who has written the book on Hero to Zero and autographed it.

Saturday was not yips. It was fear - of failure I guess. As soon he went one over for his first two holes of the third round, against two birdies the day before, I knew Justin had not got his mind properly around the nature of his task. Sadly it didn’t take long for that fear to be confirmed.

Rose has now had eight rounds on the Magnolia course - Saturday’s, the one that mattered the most, was the only one on the 70s. And that kind of marks him down as forever stuck in the middle lane of the motorway. So go on Justin, make me look foolish again today. At least this time I’ll be happy if you do.

Moving away from the land of make believe, you have to stand in awe of Matteson’s performance. No reason why he shouldn’t finish the job today, but my temptation is to have some fun with his very interesting challengers to see if we can’t make some trading hay with them. Love obviously is a big danger and Joe Durant has already knocked on the door three times this season, rather unluckily losing one in a playoff.

Charles Howell III carries the reputation of a bottler, but is clearly right at home on the Magnolia course after two rounds of 65, and Nick Watney is another who has been threatening a breakthrough. They are by no means alone.

Like Rose, they just need to find that extra mental ingredient to make their dream come true. For Rose right now, though, the fairy tale is looking a little Grimm.