JUSTIN Rose got what promises to be a busy month off to a good start by claiming a share of fourth place at the Quicken Loans National.

The north Hampshire golfer, who turned 35 last week, finished 12-under-par to finish tied for fourth alongside five other players, six shots behind eventual winner Troy Merritt.

Rose travelled to Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, in Virginia, hoping to defend the title he had won at Congressional a year earlier.

He got off to a good start and was just three shots off the lead after an impressive opening round of 66 (-5). A bogey at the second seemed to spark the former Robert May's School pupil into life as he picked up shots on the next three and made a total of eight birdies over the course of the round.

However, he lost a bit of ground over the course of day two. Starting on the 10th tee, he found himself two-over-par after the back nine, but two birdies on his remaining nine holes ensured that he carded a level-par round of 71.

An outstanding third round of 65 (-6), which included seven birdies and just one bogey, saw Rose fly up the leaderboard to eighth heading into the final day, just three shots off the lead.

He got off to a decent start yesterday, making a birdie at the second, but he was unable to make his move on the front nine and a double-bogey five at the par-three ninth put an end to any realistic chance of him defending his crown.

However, two excellent shots into the par-five 14th gave him a 10-foot putt for an eagle, which he sunk to get himself back under par for the day.

He was unable to gain any more ground, but a one-under-par round of 70 saw him move up four places in the final standings.

The Quicken Loans National marked the start of a busy period on the PGA Tour. Rose is in action again this weekend, competing at the World Golf Championships - Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone CC, in Ohio, while the final major of the year, the PGA Championship, takes place the following week.

World number seven Rose sits 12th in the FedEx Cup standings, with the season-ending play-offs getting under way later in the month.