The Open 2018: Justin Rose fumes at snap-happy photographer who put him off
Camera shutter going off in his backswing made Rose miss a birdie putt on the sixth in opening one-over 72
JUSTIN ROSE was left fuming after a snap-happy photographer put him off during round one of the Open.
The world No 3 was standing over a short birdie putt on the par-five sixth when a camera shutter went off right in the middle of his backswing.
Rose missed his attempt after birdieing the previous hole and appeared to point at the offender as he walked off the green.
The 2013 US Open champion then pushed a drive right into trouble off the seventh tee.
Again he and caddie Mark Fulcher turned with a scowl to the bank of snappers only to be told the one who distracted him before was gone.
Rose eventually signed for a one-over 72 after draining a birdie putt on the last but knew it could have been better.
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Asked about the flashpoint on the sixth, Rose said: "There was a series of shots that ran off right through my backstroke and transition.
"It's one of those things that does happen out here. I let the photographer know that I was not happy about what happened, and made him aware of what happened."
Rose was being watched by England's World Cup hero Jordan Pickford.
The Three Lions keeper walked outside the ropes but could not get any of his magic from the Russia finals to rub off on Rose.
Meanwhile, Rose's playing partner Jordan Spieth blamed a "brain fart" for his nightmare finish.
The defending champion played his final four holes in four over to finish one over.
Spieth said his second shot into par-four 16th led to the most trouble.
He said: "The problem was on the second shot, I should have hit enough club to reach the front of the green, and even if it goes 20 yards over the green, it's an easy up-and-down.
"I just had a brain fart, and I missed it into the location where the only pot bunker where I could actually get in trouble, and it plugged deep into it. It was a really, really poor decision."