Justin Rose’s bid for back-to-back major victories evaporated in the heat at Muirfield today.

The Hampshire golfer claimed one of golf’s four crown jewels for the first time when he won the US Open, at Merion, last month.

But the 32-year-old was unable to bounce back from an opening 75 (+4), carding a second round 77 in the Open Championship.

Rose, although not threatening the leaders, had looked on course to at least make the cut.

Having made a shaky start to his second 18 with a dropped shot on the second and a double bogey on the sixth, the Englishman steadied the ship with a birdie four at the ninth. However, the good work was immediately undone with a six on the par-four tenth and another dropped shot on the next hole.

Six pars and a dropped shot at the last followed, but it was not enough with the cut line expected to fall at +7 and Rose three shots off the mark.

Overnight leader Zach Johnson was on course to retain his position, the former US Masters winner lying at -4 with a few holes remaining of the back nine.

Lee Westwood leads the home challenge on -2 and is tied for third with Tiger Woods.