Hilton Head Island, SC – At 44, Justin Rose believes he should be penciled in as the next European Ryder Cup Captain at Adare Manor in Ireland.
After his one-hole playoff loss to Rory McIlroy on Sunday at The Masters, Rose was telling current European Captain Luke Donald, I want on the Bethpage Black team.
With the top six in the ranking receiving an automatic pick, Rose moved from 28th to fourth, just ahead of Shane Lowry and Ludvig Aberg after last week.
Playing in six Ryder Cups starting in 2008, Rose played on winners in 12’, 14’, 18’, and 23.
Averaging over 2.5 points per Ryder Cup appearance, McIlroy noted the importance of having an all-Euro playoff.
“You know, selfishly, I was happy that it was another Euro in the playoff,” McIlroy said, donning the Green Jacket. “We’re on a good run at the minute. We’re Ryder Cup year and all that.”
It has been a good run with Europeans winning more than Americans on the PGA Tour, with seven Europeans to Five American wins.
Digging deeper, the European winners include three for McIlroy, Ludvig Aberg, Viktor Hovland, Sepp Straka, and Thomas Detry, four of the winners Ryder Cuppers.
Conversely, the American winners include Harris English, Brian Campbell, Joe Highsmith, Russell Henley, and Brian Harman.
“Obviously, it’s been noticed this year amongst us, the Europeans, that we’re playing well,” Rose said. “There’s a lot of guys really contending for tournaments. There’s a lot of guys playing some good golf. That’s great to see. It’s great to see that the boys are really adapting to the PGA TOUR, even some of the newer guys.”
But Rose put on the brakes, at the same time, after praising the Europeans so far.
“But I don’t know if it matters right now, Rose said. “Ryder Cup is a long way away. I think there’s good energy around our team and what we’re sort of trying to gear up for. By no means do we underestimate the task at hand.”
In 2012, the Europeans recovered from a four-point deficit to win in the U.S. at Medinah Country Club outside of Chicago and the last away win by either side.
After the win in Rome, the Europeans’ focus, as they are the holders of the cup is to win an away game.
Going to New York at Bethpage Black is a challenge of its own, but adding the focus of winning away adds to the pressure.
“I think we all know it’s going to have to be a fully firing European team to have a chance there,” Rose said. “So far, so good there for sure. There’s definitely good form amongst the boys. But you can only hope that that continues into the months that matter right before the Ryder Cup. But I think on track. I think if I was Luke Donald right now, I’d be looking at my team going, okay, the boys are — everything is according to plan at this present moment in time.”
Related: A Blow-by-Blow of McIlroy’s Masters Win
Related: Rory McIlroy Did Nothing Wrong, According to Bryson DeChambeau
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