ABERDEEN, Scotland – After capturing his first major title at last year’s U.S. Open, Justin Rose took nearly 13 months to return to the winner’s circle.

Now he’s heading to the British Open seeking a third tournament victory in three weeks.

Rose turned the final round of the Scottish Open into a procession on Sunday, calmly shooting a 6-under 65 to win by two strokes and seal back-to-back successes either side of the Atlantic.

A fortnight ago, the Englishman won the Quicken Loans National at Congressional in a playoff to finally shrug off that hangover from Merion.

“It’s uncharted territory for me – I’ve never won two in a row before,” said Rose, who has banked almost $2 million in prize money from his two victories.

The big question now is: can he make it three in a row? Definitely, judging by his impressive body of work over the Royal Aberdeen links since Thursday.

Four straight rounds in the 60s. Imperious iron play in varying wind conditions. Brilliant putting, which has long been his weak point. The confidence of being a major champion stood out Sunday – Rose was nerveless from the moment he rolled in a 12-foot putt on the second hole, the first of six birdies.

His closest challengers had no chance, with playing partner Marc Warren – who started out in the last group with Rose tied at 10-under – watching on in awe.

“Not a lot I could have done about that,” said Warren, who shot a 70 for third place. “Once he gets out in front, he’s very tough to catch. The whole day he was very clinical.

“I don’t like being on the end of it but it was a pleasure to watch.”

Unheralded Swede Kristoffer Broberg finished second on 14 under after a 66, one of a slew of low scores on a windless final day that left Royal Aberdeen defenseless and there for the taking. If players wanted one last tough test before Hoylake, it wasn’t going to come here with because of a lack of wind off the North Sea, soft greens after morning rain and some easy pin positions.

Broberg earned one of the three qualifying places for the British Open at Hoylake, along with other top-10 finishers Tyrrell Hatton and Scott Jamieson.

Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher and Chile’s Felipe Aguilar broke the course record with 8-under 63s and deposed champion Phil Mickelson saved his best round for last with a 65.

Mickelson was tied for 11th while Rory McIlroy tied for 14th after a 67. Both world stars seemed satisfied with the state of their games ahead of the British Open, however.

“I feel a lot sharper and I feel like I have direction in my ball-striking and direction in my short game and putting,” said Mickelson, who will be defending the claret jug.

Likely up to No. 3 in the world from No. 6 with this 15th professional victory worldwide and first in Europe since 2007, Rose is in prime form heading to his home major. And there was no stopping him here.

The Englishman rolled in birdies at Nos. 2 and 3 – the latter from 25 feet – to power into a two-shot lead over Warren, who was looking to avenge a final-round meltdown at the Scottish Open two years ago when he blew a three-shot lead with four to play.

Rose added three more birdies in the front nine and another at No. 12, before parring his way home. He had the luxury of being able to soak up the applause as he ambled down the 18th hole, having planted his drive straight down the fairway and his approach onto the center of the green.

His iron play has been commanding this week, reviving memories of the form he produced at Merion.

“I was pretty calm out there as I got off to a good start,” Rose said. “I never felt in a lot of trouble.

Rose is making a habit of winning on tough courses, with Royal Aberdeen joining a list that includes Merion, Doral, Valderrama and most recently Congressional.

“It feels unbelievable to be back in the winner’s circle so quickly,” he said.

HOYLAKE, England – Tiger Woods returned to Royal Liverpool on Saturday for the first time since he won his third British Open title in 2006.

The links course looked the same – except for the color of the grass.

Woods eight years ago played on a links that was baked out and brown from weeks of sunshine. The course was so firm and fast that he famously hit driver only once in 72 holes on his way to a two-shot victory over Chris DiMarco.

The 14-time major champion arrived at the course Saturday morning on the northwest coast of England for his first major of the year.

Woods had back surgery March 31 to relieve a nerve impingement, which caused him to miss the Masters for the first time and then the U.S. Open. He returned earlier than he expected three weeks ago in the Quicken Loans National at Congressional, where he missed the cut by four shots.

There was a light rain during his practice round, the first time it has rained this week. The forecast for next week is mostly cloudy and mild temperatures, with rain possible on the weekend of the British Open.

Defending champion Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler and Justin Rose were among those at Royal Aberdeen for the Scottish Open. Woods did not have Hoylake to himself. According to photos posted on Twitter by Royal Liverpool, top-ranked Adam Scott and Jason Day also were practicing.

Woods has gone nearly a year without winning. His last victory was the Bridgestone Invitational the first week in August, where he rolled to a seven-shot victory. He ended last year without a major for the fifth straight year, and got off to a slow start this year with recurring back pain that eventually led to surgery.

He has had a chance to win on Sunday in the last two British Opens. He tied for third at Royal Lytham & St. Annes in 2012, though he took himself out of contention early in the final round. And he was among several players with a chance on the back nine at Muirfield last year until Mickelson pulled away.

Woods is playing only the final two majors this year, both on courses where he previously won – Hoylake in 2006 and Valhalla for the PGA Championship in 2000.

ABERDEEN, Scotland – Justin Rose set up a chance to capture back-to-back titles by shooting a 5-under 66 at the Scottish Open on Saturday to move into a share of the lead with Marc Warren after three rounds.

Rose and Warren (67) are 10-under-par overall at the warm-up tournament for the British Open, one shot clear of Kristoffer Broberg of Sweden (68).

Nearly three weeks after winning the Quicken Loans National at Congressional, Rose has kept up his strong form despite struggling with hayfever and, more recently, sinus problems.

Warren, who held a three-shot lead midway through the third round, is looking to avenge a final-round collapse at his home Scottish Open in 2012.

Rory McIlroy (68) and Phil Mickelson (70) were unable to mount considerable challenges to the leaders and are seven and eight shots off the lead, respectively.

ABERDEEN, Scotland – Rory McIlroy surrendered the lead at the Scottish Open with his latest second-round meltdown on Friday, leaving three players tied for first place on a day when brutal winds played havoc with the field.

Kristoffer Broberg of Sweden, Argentina’s Ricardo Gonzalez and Marc Warren of Scotland were atop the leaderboard on 6 under, with just 17 of 150 players shooting below 70 on the par-71 Royal Aberdeen links course.

McIlroy shot a course-record 64 in the first round but followed it up with a 78, continuing a worrying trend this season that has seen the former world No. 1 fail to build on strong starts.

“Having to talk about it, it’s always being brought up, it’s sort of in your mind,” a frustrated McIlroy said.

Justin Rose shrugged off the effects of hayfever to sign for a 68 and was alone in fourth place, a shot behind the trio of leaders.

Defending champion Phil Mickelson was among the afternoon starters who had to deal with a punishing breeze, especially on the back nine. A 73, which left him at 1 under, was something of an achievement but left him “mentally drained” just a week before the defense of his British Open title.

“I’m a little concerned that it’s taking up a little bit more energy than I’d like ahead of next week,” Mickelson said. “But it’s also a good opportunity to focus on the more difficult shots that we’ll have next week. So it kind of goes both ways.”

Englishmen Lee Westwood (73 for 3 over) and Ian Poulter (74 for 5 over) were the high-profile names to miss the cut.

McIlroy’s brilliant first round suggested the Northern Irishman had turned the corner in his bid to conquer the links but he looked a disgruntled, beaten man after he came off the 18th green.

Over the same seven-hole stretch (Nos. 8-14) where he picked up six shots on Thursday, McIlroy dropped six shots – including a double-bogey 7 at the 12th.

“It was a grind out there,” McIlroy said, “but at the end of the day, it’s a great way to prepare for next week, if nothing else.”

Gonzalez headed out in the next-to-last group and led by two shots on 8 under at the turn. He held himself together through the tough back nine until the last hole, when he made a double-bogey 6 after being forced to take a penalty shot for sending his drive into a gorse bush.

A 71 dropped Gonzalez back into a tie with Broberg (71) and Warren (69), who is leading the Scottish charge and looking to make amends for blowing a three-shot lead with four to play at the Scottish Open in 2012.

“What happened two years ago was tough to take at the time but hopefully it stands me in good stead,” Warren said.

“It would be a romantic tale.”

After admitting to needing an “adjustment period” to fully digest winning his first major at the U.S. Open at Merion in 2013, Rose returned to the winner’s circle after more than a year at the Quicken Loans National in June.

That has given him some self-belief heading into the British Open – and so will a solid start in northern Scotland, despite struggling with hayfever for the last 12 days.

Rose rolled in three birdies on the benign front nine and held on grimly coming back in.

“I came off a victory (on the U.S. PGA Tour) and didn’t do much practice for whatever reason last week, so I came here and felt absolutely horrendous,” Rose said. “The last couple of days I have been trying to find my feel again.

“I am beginning to click back into gear again and see some good shots.”

Paul Waring of England shot a 66 for the lowest score of the day.

ABERDEEN, Scotland – Three years after virtually giving up on links golf, a more mature Rory McIlroy appears ready to give it another chance.

McIlroy tamed blustery conditions on day one of the Scottish Open to shoot a 7-under 64 on Thursday, giving him a one-stroke lead and showing his links game is in great shape ahead of next week’s British Open at Hoylake.

“I feel I am as prepared as I have ever been to play this type of golf,” a smiling McIlroy said after rolling in eight birdies – six of which came in a stunning seven-hole spell from Nos. 8-14 at Royal Aberdeen.

How things have changed from 2011.

At a wet and wild British Open at Royal St. George’s that year, a frustrated McIlroy opened his heart, saying he wasn’t a fan of tournaments where the “outcome is predicted so much by the weather” and that “there’s no point in changing your game for one week a year.”

Coming from someone who grew up playing on the links in his native Northern Ireland, it was a strange outburst. That seems to be in the past now.

“I’m going to make it my favorite style for two weeks a year,” said McIlroy, adding he was “relishing the challenge” of playing in the wind and rain.

Unheralded Swede Kristoffer Broberg – who went out in the first group at 6:30 a.m. local time – and Ricardo Gonzalez of Argentina shot 65s to lie one shot behind McIlroy.

Michael Hoey, a compatriot of McIlroy, was a stroke further back after a 5-under 66, and former world No. 1 Luke Donald was among four players to shoot 67. Phil Mickelson missed a 3-foot par putt at the final hole for his only bogey in a 68, a solid start by the American to the defense of his title.

McIlroy’s course-record round stood out, though. Refreshed after a two-week break that included a five-day trip to the Spanish island of Ibiza with friends, the two-time major winner looked back to his sharpest.

He showed a good feel on the greens, especially in that barrage of birdies around the turn, and drove straight and long in the face of winds of up to 20 mph (30 kph). One of the highlights of his round was driving the green on the 436-yard 13th hole while the group ahead was on the putting surface.

“I didn’t really think that was out there,” American golfer Rickie Fowler said of McIlroy’s score.

Ominously for his British Open rivals, McIlroy said he felt completely at one with his game, the “polar opposite” to this time last year when he was “not very confident with anything.”

“Everything was pretty much on,” he said. “In the conditions, this is as low as I have ever been.”

McIlroy has had problems backing up good opening rounds this season, so there is still hope for the rest of the field in northern Scotland.

Up at 4 a.m. local time, Broberg showed the kind of form that won him four events on the second-tier Challenge Tour in 2012, earned him his tour card, and marked him as a star of the future.

Five of his six birdies came from Nos. 6-12 and Broberg had just 24 putts in his round, putting him in contention to claim one of the four qualifying berths for the British Open that are available at Royal Aberdeen for non-exempt players finishing in the top 10.

Gonzalez made light work of a front nine playing into the wind, and was 8 under par after an eagle 3 at No. 12. Two bogeys at the end saw him drop off the lead.

Mickelson’s round was typically eventful. A chip to 10 feet from a cart path at No. 13 was his shot of the day, while the British Open champion avoided a penalty on the 10th when his ball moved on his backswing for his second shot. A sharp gust of wind was to blame.

Lee Westwood recovered from dropping five shots in his first five holes to post a 72, and six-time major winner Nick Faldo, playing his first regular European Tour event since 2010, had a 2-over 73 as he gets ready for a return to the British Open.

Tom Lewis made a hole in one on the par-3 No. 17 on his way to a 70.

ABERDEEN, Scotland – From Darren Clarke in 2011 to Phil Mickelson in 2013, the last three winners of the British Open have honed their links-course game at the Scottish Open a week earlier.

So perhaps it’s no surprise that trend has lured many top players to the northern tip of Scotland, not just for a tilt at the $850,000 top prize but also for some practice of the type of shots that will be required at the year’s third major at Hoylake.

Mickelson is a Scottish Open regular who won the tournament last year before going on to capture the claret jug at Muirfield.

He will face competition this year from the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Luke Donald and fellow Americans Jimmy Walker and Rickie Fowler when the tournament gets underway at Royal Aberdeen on Thursday.

The Scottish Open has regained its luster after a couple of lean years with weak fields, which comes as no surprise to Mickelson.

“I think it’s a common-sense thing,” he said in an interview with Britain’s Daily Telegraph published Wednesday.

“To win the (Scottish Open) gave me a lot of momentum. It was such a big factor because it allowed me to work on the short shots around the green, in the firm conditions. My short game was very sharp in Open week – a lot of that was due to the week before.”

After three years at Castle Stuart in Inverness, the Scottish Open has relocated even further north to the par-71 Royal Aberdeen, founded in 1780. It’s the world’s sixth-oldest golf course.

Mickelson is a big fan of the old Scottish courses – and of Scotland in general. And he has learned to embrace the quirky challenges that characterize links golf, such as playing in fierce winds and dealing with the unpredictable bounce on undulating fairways, which is some feat given his Californian roots.

He mastered it in that stunning two-week stretch last summer, culminating in a 6-under 66 on the final day at Muirfield that allowed him to pip Lee Westwood for victory at a third different major.

“It requires a lot more precision and great flight of the ball, as well as control on the ground and touch around the green. It is just the complete test,” said Mickelson, who has yet to win a tournament in 2014.

McIlroy has had mixed success in Europe this season, winning the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth – the European Tour’s flagship event – but then missing the cut at his home Irish Open a month later. He hasn’t played at the Scottish Open since 2009.

Rose, the 2013 U.S. Open winner, ended a yearlong title drought with a victory at the Quicken Loans National on the PGA Tour two weeks ago.

Former top-ranked Donald won the Scottish Open in 2011 and will partner with Mickelson in the first two rounds this year.

Nick Faldo, a six-time major winner, is also in the field. He will be playing his first regular European Tour event since 2010.

SAINT-QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES, France – Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland came from eight shots back to retain his French Open title Sunday, shooting a 4-under 67 in pouring rain to win by one shot.

McDowell made the best of the tough conditions, making five birdies and a bogey for the lowest round of the day to finish with a 5-under 279 total.

“That goes back to my upbringing a little bit in my teens, playing through all weathers and conditions,” McDowell said. “Playing golf in bad weather is an art form. Some guys are good at it, some guys are not.”

Overnight leader Kevin Stadler only managed a 76 to share second place with Thongchai Jaidee, who carded a 72. Stadler still had a chance to win it on the last hole, but he missed a long birdie putt. He then failed to even force a playoff when he missed a three-footer for par.

“I think it’s very hard to lose the same tournament twice on the same day and I managed to do it,” Stadler said.

McDowell had seven top-10 finishes this year on the European Tour and PGA Tour before entering this tournament.

“I’ve pretty much thought of myself a decent bad weather golfer, until the last five years,” McDowell said. “I feel like I’m spending a little bit too much time in America. I’m a little bit soft, and I needed that type of a day.”

Stadler went into the final round with a four-shot lead over Thongchai and Victor Riu. He even got a five-stroke cushion when Riu found water off the tee of the second hole for a double bogey.

Soon, Stadler put himself in trouble by missing short par putts on No. 4 and No. 6. He then double-bogeyed No. 7 by hooking his tee shot into the rough before missing the fairway with his second shot.

Another errant tee shot from Stadler on No. 8 gave Riu a share of the lead.

“It was absolutely miserable,” Stadler said about the weather. “We don’t play in that stuff in the States.”

Four players then shared the lead when McDowell and Jamie Donaldson made birdies on the 13th and 14th, respectively, to join Stadler and Riu atop the leaderboard.

McDowell sank a birdie putt from more than 20 feet on No. 16 to move three strokes clear. But Stadler made a strong charge to get back into contention, tying the defending champion with a birdie on that same hole.

After finishing his round, McDowell was preparing for a playoff with Stadler, but a huge roar from the crowd told him the American had missed his par putt.

“Last night, I didn’t think I had a shot,” McDowell said. “I had a glass of wine or two last night to kind of drown my frustration.”

SAINT-QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES, France – In challenging conditions, Kevin Stadler shot a 1-over 72 and still managed to extend his lead to four strokes over Victor Riu and Thongchai Jaidee after the third round of the French Open on Saturday.

Leading since the first round, Stadler endured wind gusts and brief showers and made two bogeys and a birdie for a 9-under 204 total.

“I didn’t play that great,” Stadler said. “Made a whole lot of pars, a couple of nice up-and-downs for pars. Not nearly as many looks as I had the last couple of days, but you can’t expect to play that well for four days in a row.”

Riu, of France, wasted a solid front nine after the turn with six bogeys to card a 73, sharing second place with Thongchai, the Thai who shot 69. U.S. Open champion Martin Kaymer signed off on a 70 to move into fourth, six strokes off the lead.

“The way he plays golf and the way I know him, very laid-back guy, it will be difficult to catch him,” Kaymer said of Stadler.

Stadler could become on Sunday the first American to win this tournament since Barry Jaeckel in 1972. However, he will have to cope with a tight back.

“On 8, and from then on, it was just a little tight,” Stadler said. “But wasn’t too painful, and I could figure out how to get around after that.”

Stadler went into the third round with a three-stroke lead over Riu. But Stadler missed a short par putt on the third hole while Riu birdied No. 5 and No. 9 to claim a share of the lead at 9 under.

The momentum changed after the turn as Riu dropped his first shot of the day on the 10th by finding water off the tee.

Riu’s best result this year was 38th in Singapore in May. He has never won on the European Tour. On the other hand, Thongchai won the Nordea Masters last month in Sweden.

“My golf game is really very consistent right now,” Thongchai said. “Driver not too good today (but) the putting gives me a lot of chances.”

Stadler won the Phoenix Open in February and was tied for eighth at the Masters in April.

Craig Stadler, Kevin’s father, won the Masters in 1982 and shared 22nd place at the French Open in 1987.

SAINT-QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES, France – Kevin Stadler increased his lead at the French Open to three strokes by shooting a 3-under 68 in the second round on Friday.

The American made six birdies and dropped three shots, including a double bogey on his last hole, for a 10-under 132 total.

“I wasn’t expecting to play this well obviously, but I enjoyed the golf course,” Stadler said. “I thought it was a course that suited me from the very beginning.”

Stadler was making his French Open debut but quickly got a good feel for this punishing golf course that will host the Ryder Cup in 2018.

Frenchman Victor Riu (67) was in second place, two strokes clear of 2012 winner Marcel Siem (72). Defending champion Graeme McDowell (69) and U.S. Open champion Martin Kaymer (68) stayed in contention, respectively tied for fourth and 11th, while Thomas Bjorn and George Coetzee missed the cut.

“(If) he keeps playing (like) that, he’s going to be tough to catch,” McDowell said about Stadler.

Stadler had a six-stroke cushion after 16 holes Friday and was on course to tie the record for the tournament’s lowest score after the first two rounds, set by Seve Ballesteros with 130 in 1985.

But he failed to find the fairway with his first three shots on the par-5 No. 9, then sent the ball into the bunker with his fourth.

“Been struggling the last couple months, but I had a nice week off last week,” Stadler said. “I pretty much just completely got away from it, didn’t really touch a club other than one day, and got over here, and just kind of recharged the batteries a little bit. The swing flaws kind of disappear when you don’t touch a club too often, and I felt comfortable from the get-go once I got here.”

Stadler won the Phoenix Open in February and was in a tie for eighth at the Masters in April.

Craig Stadler, Kevin’s father, won the Masters in 1982 and shared 22nd place at the French Open in 1987.

“I just read recently that he played here,” Stadler said. “I didn’t know he played here. So we didn’t talk about it at all.”

Siem finished the first round one stroke behind Stadler, but lost further ground by making five bogeys and four birdies.

“The 10-under, when you see that all day long on the scoreboard this morning with no wind, I just tried to keep up there,” Siem said. “I just tried to equalize that. Just tried to shoot 4-under today. That was the problem. You have to be very, very patient on this golf course, otherwise it kills you, and that’s what happened today.”

Jose Maria Olazabal, the 2001 champion, retired because of a back injury.

SAINT-QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES, France – In his French Open debut, Kevin Stadler shot a bogey-free 7-under 64 to lead by a stroke after the first round on Thursday.

The American golfer, who won the Phoenix Open in February and shared eighth place at the Masters in April, made seven birdies on a punishing golf course that will host the Ryder Cup in 2018.

“Not making bogey was something I didn’t think possible in my practice rounds,” Stadler said. “It’s one of my favorite courses. It’s spectacular.”

Marcel Siem of Germany was in second place, one stroke clear of Stephen Gallacher of Scotland. Jamie Donaldson of Wales and Felipe Aguilar of Chile were tied for fourth at 4 under.

Defending champion Graeme McDowell (70) and U.S. Open champion Martin Kaymer (72) stayed in contention while Padraig Harrington (74), Thomas Bjorn (76) and Victor Dubuisson (76) will need a good performance in the second round on Friday to make the cut.

Siem, who won the French Open in 2012 but missed the cut last year, has had very little sleep since the birth of his daughter, Carlotta Sophie, 10 days ago. But he still found the energy in the morning to offset two bogeys with eight birdies for a 65 that only Stadler was able to eclipse.

“I cannot wait to go to bed to be honest,” Siem said. “On the third, I already said to my caddie: `I’ve got to go to bed, I need to get my batteries loaded up.’ I’m really pleased I stayed patient today.”

Gallacher took the lead from Siem by picking up a shot on No. 5, but he slipped down the leaderboard with two bogeys in his last three holes at Le Golf National.

“You never feel comfortable on this course,” Gallacher said. “Every shot’s got a risk in the water. So you’ve got to keep on your toes. You’ve got to concentrate all the time.”

Gallacher won the Dubai Desert Classic in February and was tied for second at the Nordea Masters in Sweden last month.

David Howell carded a 72 in his 500th appearance on the European Tour, becoming at 39 the second youngest golfer to reach that milestone.

“It all comes down to desire, and also your health,” Howell said. “I’ve had my injuries along the way and my niggles, and they are still there. But I’m feeling pretty good at the moment.”

Ryder Cup Captain Paul McGinley withdrew because of a shoulder injury and was replaced by Andrew McArthur (76).