Justin Rose became just the second player to secure a spot on Europe’s Ryder Cup team for Bethpage, something not many would have expected heading into the FedEx Cup playoffs.
At the start of this season, it looked like Justin Rose was well on his way to making his seventh Ryder Cup appearance. He finished second at The Masters and third at Pebble Beach, both strong results that hinted at a solid campaign ahead.
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But after missing cuts at the PGA Championship, Canadian Open, and US Open, it seemed like the 45-year-old might need to lean on his past record in the event to get a place in New York.
That narrative shifted dramatically at last week’s FedEx St. Jude Championship.
How Rose’s Ryder Cup selection was received by Europe’s top players
Rose may not have been the favourite going into the final round at TPC Southwind, but he came through in a playoff against J.J. Spaun to pick up his 12th PGA Tour title.
The win secured him an automatic spot on the European team, and it didn’t take long for reactions to start coming in from other players who were happy to see him make it.
On the No Laying Up Podcast, Jamie Weir pointed out that Luke Donald was always likely to find a place for Rose in some capacity. He also spoke about how other top European players felt about Rose being part of the team even before his win.
“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,” Weir 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 or 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 adds depth to a European team hoping for another Medinah moment
It is therefore imperative that Rose is one of those who does step up. He knows what it takes to win the Ryder Cup on American soil. He is also just outside the top 10 for the most points ever won by a European, with 15.5 across his career. So nothing should come as a surprise to him.
Depth will play a big role for Europe, especially in an environment as intense as Bethpage where there’s always a chance one or two players might struggle to handle the pressure.
That’s why having someone like Justin Rose becomes so important. He understands what it takes to win away from home and sits just outside the top 10 for most points earned by a European, with 15.5 over his career.
Rose played such an important role in Rome, helping Robert MacIntyre settle into the competition. The Scot grew and grew over his three rounds at Marco Simone. And Rose has to take so much credit for that.
Even if there are no rookies in next month’s lineup, his experience remains crucial. His consistency might not be what it once was, but Sunday showed he still has plenty left when it matters most.
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