GLASGOW, Scotland, July 11 (UPI) -- Justin Rose, who missed the cut at last week's European Open, fired a 6-under 65 Thursday that gave him the lead after the first round of the Scottish Open.
Both of the young Englishman's victories on the European Tour have followed missed cuts.
"I can't explain my roller coaster season," Rose said, "but my motto is: 'Don't get mad, get even'. That's how my year has been, really. I have been getting success off the back of a bad week rather than from a good run of tournaments and I'm at a loss to explain it.
"However I think it's a good sign that when I do have a poor week, I don't panic or worry about my game. It's all mental. The technique's there. It's just a case of whether my mind gets focused into the week."
On a day day of bright sunshine and heat interspersed by an occasional downpour at Loch Lomond, Rose shot a 5-under 31 on the front nine.
He had a one-shot lead over Fredrik Jacobson and Miles Tunnicliff, winner of the recent Great North Open. Those at 67 included Warren Bennett, John Bickerton, Scottish amateur Barry Hume and two-time major championship winner Sandy Lyle.
At the start of the year, Rose missed the cut at the South African Open before capturing the Dunhill Championship. He also spent the weekend off during the Volvo PGA Championship before emerging as champion at the British Masters.
His missed cut in Dublin last week left Rose disappointed, but not downcast.
"It's funny because I haven't played well and was trying to find my game," he said. "But I hit a couple of good iron shots and once I got to 3-under and saw my name on the board, I started to play and putt really well."
Ernie Els, the 2000 winner, was joined by European Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance in a group of six players at 68. Defending champion Retief Goosen and Colin Montgomerie were at 75, Thomas Bjorn had a 75 and Lee Westwood a 76.
