Not many people would have expected Justin Rose to be the second player to secure a spot on Europe’s Ryder Cup team for Bethpage heading into the FedEx Cup playoffs.
Rose looked like a strong contender for his seventh Ryder Cup appearance earlier this year, with a runner-up finish at The Masters and third place at Pebble Beach standing out as early positives.
But after missing the cut at the PGA Championship, Canadian Open, and US Open, it seemed likely that his experience in past events might be what kept him in contention for New York.
The win at the FedEx St. Jude Championship shifted the landscape. Rose not only ended his four-year title drought but also confirmed his place on Team Europe.
How Europe’s top players felt about Justin Rose being at the Ryder Cup
Most people did not expect him to win, but Rose was able to close out his 12th PGA Tour victory after a playoff with J.J. Spaun.
That result guaranteed his place in the European side, and plenty of players were happy to see him get over the line.
On the No Laying Up Podcast, Jamie Weir explained that Donald was always going to find a way for Rose to be involved. He also shared how other top European players felt about Rose before he earned his spot.
“As recently as two or three weeks ago I think Justin Rose was still a bit of a question mark, which is why Luke hasn’t named his final assistant captain up to this point. I think he was just trying to see what Justin Rose would do over the summer,” he said.
“Now he’s had a great summer, did great in Scotland, at The Open, and obviously has now just won as well, which has cemented his place on the team. He’s now qualified for the team, he doesn’t need a pick anymore.
“But I think that’s why he was giving himself a bit of time because had Justin carried on in a similar vein than he did in May-June time then he would’ve been an assistant captain.
“He’s going to be in the team. I know for a fact that a lot of the senior players wanted him on the team as a player. So that now answers one of the big questions Luke would’ve had.”
Justin Rose’s experience will be key as Europe look to repeat Medinah heroics
Depth will be vital for Europe, with the intensity of Bethpage likely to expose one or two players who struggle under pressure.
That is why Rose’s presence is so important. He understands what it takes to win a Ryder Cup in the US and sits just outside the top 10 for most points scored by a European, with 15.5 in his career. Nothing about this stage will catch him off guard.
| Year | Justin Rose’s points won | Overall record |
| 2008 | 3 | 3-1-0 |
| 2012 | 3 | 3-2-0 |
| 2014 | 4 | 3-0-2 |
| 2016 | 2 | 2-3-0 |
| 2018 | 2 | 2-2-0 |
| 2023 | 1.5 | 1-1-1 |
In Rome, he played a key role in helping Robert MacIntyre settle into the competition. The Scot grew more confident over his three rounds at Marco Simone, and Rose deserves much of the credit for that.
This time around, there may not be any rookies in Europe’s side, but Rose’s experience remains crucial.
Sunday proved he can still compete at the highest level when it counts, despite lacking consistent week-to-week performance.
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