Justin Rose’s impressive record of being eligible for every Major since The Open Championship in 2010 is set to continue after the Englishman ended a four-year winless run on the PGA Tour with a three-stroke victory at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in California.
The former World No.1 was in danger of missing out on this year’s Masters Tournament for the first time in 13 years, given that he’d slipped to No. 71 in the Official World Golf Ranking. But his 11th PGA Tour win propelled him up to 35th, securing an invite to Augusta National and bolstering his hopes of qualifying for Europe’s Ryder Cup team this autumn.
“One thing I have realised is obviously I haven’t been playing enough great golf, but when I do play half decent I do give myself chances to win,” said Rose. “It was nice today to tee off with a lead.
“Obviously a win does give you a lot of belief. We always know we can do it, but sometimes you’ve got to see the proof. That [winning] does make me feel good.”
Rose could have been considered a stereotypical LIV target given his age and status as a former Major champion who may have been uncertain whether he could win again at the highest level of the game.
But instead of joining fellow Ryder Cup veterans like Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia and Ian Poulter, Rose decided that his ambition to compete in golf’s four Major Championships put a move out of the question. A decision that is now paying dividends.
“I mean, access to the Major Championships is a large part of my decision to be playing where I’m playing, for sure,” he said.
“Obviously playing in events like this that have a great history, that give access to iconic golf course, all of those things. Winning events that really matter.”
“I have won one Major, but that’s where my childhood dreams lay. Having access to that was really, really important to me going forward.”
