Justin Rose enters the Team Cup with one thing on his mind – victory. The former World No. 1, has claimed 11 PGA Tour titles and 11 DP World Tour victories, including his crowning moment at the 2013 U.S. Open. Though it’s his team and Ryder Cup skills that will shine this week. A veteran of five Ryder Cups, he boasts an impressive record of 13.5 points from 23 matches, making him one of Team GB&I’s most battle-tested leaders.
Known for his unflappable demeanor and razor-sharp focus, Rose also has a knack for inspiring his teammates, a skill honed during years of Ryder Cup campaigns.
With his extensive experience, winning pedigree, and a deep understanding of match play dynamics, Rose is well-equipped to steer GB&I to victory but can he outmanoeuvre fellow Ryder Cup team mate and Major winner Francesco Molinari?
We caught up with the 2016 Olympic Gold Medalist to find out his plans and thoughts ahead of the showdown:
Worldwide Golf: You finished second behind Jamie Donaldson at the 2013 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship – having played many iconic venues around the world, what stands out about the National Course and how will its layout challenge the players in a team format?
Justin Rose: Yeah, I have good memories of the National Course in Abu Dhabi. I think it’s always been a golf course that demands a lot of you, especially off the tee. They can set the course up with quite a bit of rough and I think that is relatively tight. There are a few angles, especially off the tee, that you need to be wary of. I think if you go if you go there and you drive well, you can really set up a good week and I think that that’s going to be one of the biggest challenges for the players in the team format, especially when it comes to foursomes.
WWG: The UAE is investing heavily in golf as a sport and into becoming a sporting destination. How do you see events like the Team Cup contributing to the development of grassroots golf in the region?
JR: It’s great that the UAE is investing heavily in golf. Their facilities are going from strength-to-strength and I think it’s becoming such a desirable destination to go and play golf. But grass roots growth in the region is super-important. Obviously, a lot of people travel out there to come and experience the weather and the great the great golf courses, but we do want the next generation of golfers coming through in the UAE to be inspired by all of these great events that are being put on.
The hope is that the Team Cup can show everybody something a little bit different. Obviously, we get very familiar with strokeplay tournaments and the same events as rolling in and out of town. But Team Cup can maybe bring a little bit more camaraderie and togetherness and obviously, kids tend to really gravitate towards team sports too, so if they can see golf through that light, that can be an interesting way of helping grow golf in the region.
WWG: Having achieved success around the world, what are the distinctive features of playing in the UAE as an all-round experience?
JR: Typically, when you play in the UAE, you’re playing in pretty perfect golf conditions. The golf courses are usually in wonderful condition and they all have their own interesting and individual styles. But in January time you can get a little bit more wind, so for me that’s one of the biggest factors in terms of what makes the golf courses a good challenge. Also, if it’s more in the wintertime, the temperatures get a bit cooler and I feel like they can grow the rough a little bit thicker. So, typically, we’re playing the golf course, I would say, in pretty demanding conditions. Also, with a lack of rain generally in the area, they have a good opportunity to get the golf courses quite firm and that is the one way to really make courses tough for the pros, is to firm up the greens.
