Justin Rose said he is positive and motivated about the direction his game is heading as he returns to the European Tour for the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Golf Club.
The former World Number One is making his return to European soil for the first time this season, and has arrived at Wentworth with a positive attitude about the status of his game following some significant changes.
,Rose, who recently turned 40, has undergone something of a transitional year, which includes a change of clubs and taking greater ownership over various aspects of his game as he seeks to ‘move the needle’ in his career.
“I think ultimately, the decision was, I turned 40 this year and maybe I was fully grown up and ready to do more by myself, and not have so much hand holding,” said Rose.
“I still have Sean Foley around me, who I can consult with if I have a question. That’s the way I treat it. If I have a question, go to someone and get the relevant answer, but to take a little bit more ownership myself.
“I think it was more through the three months of being at home and being in lockdown and having space away from the Tour realising what I wanted, and also practising by myself for three months and figuring things out, and go back on Tour, why get a whole new set of thoughts of someone who has not seen you for three months.
“For me, it was a transition time and time to make those changes. They haven’t paid off but we’ll see. I tried to keep all my relationships intact. Like Bryson’s coach, Chris Como says, you have to leave a trail of popcorn or whatever it is. You don’t want to go too far on a tangent so you can’t find your way back, so I’ve been cognisant of that, too.”
While admitting that it’s been a test of patience to find himself struggling in recent events, Rose said that keeping a philosophical outlook has helped with keeping the bigger picture in mind.
“Obviously patience-wise, it’s been tested for sure,” said Rose, who finished in a tie for ninth at the PGA Championship but missed two of his last three cuts – including in his most recent start at the U.S. Open.
“It’s not fun not competing out there, the top end of the leaderboard, I’ve seen a couple of spells that keeps you buoyant. It’s not all been doom and gloom. Competed decent at the PGA Championship, and was within two or three of being right there at the end.
“So enough good stuff to keep the belief, and I feel like I’m working on ultimately a bit of a bigger plan and prize at the end of it all, so I’m trying to think about what’s going to move the move the needle in my career. Of course winning more regularly, everyone is going to do that but for me it’s winning the right tournaments, Masters down the road, get two opportunities at that within the next six months.
“I’m very philosophical about the last eight months, moves me in the direction of achieving my career goals, which are ultimately trying to win majors I haven’t won yet, which is three out of four.
“Hasn’t worked out yet, but like you say, these things don’t always happen immediately. The last couple days have actually clicked into a couple days of what I call growth. There’s some light-bulb moments and it’s a blend of some of the new things I’ve learned along the way and some of the old blue prints under Sean. I feel like I’m piecing all that together and also body-wise, being able to drill it and groove it in. You always see results on the range before you see it on the golf course, but like I said earlier, I feel positive and motivated at the moment. I’m enjoying my golf and my practise, so you can only hope that does lead to good stuff eventually.”
And the transitions in Rose’s life don’t just apply to his golf game.
When questioned whether a move back to the UK was in sight, he admitted that he and his family are spending more and more time in the UK.
“We’re in transition of spending more and more time in the U.K. and thinking about what’s good for the kids long term. My brother has moved back to the U.K. and family, as you get older, touching 40, it’s a reevaluation.
“I always believe in making the best decision you can at the time with about a ten-year view, trying to work in ten-year blocks and that’s how I have treated my career. I was in Atlanta for ten years, Bahamas for ten years, and there could be a new phase coming. So something we are in the transition of figuring out.
“You know what, talking to the kids a lot about it and schooling and all this stuff, and just sort of looking at all factors involved. Timelines have been brought up with COVID. My son is over here in boarding school, so to get to see him more regularly is important to us. Mrs. Rose is the boss of all of this stuff, so if she says go, it gets done. You look at all these things, my mom still in great health, not getting younger, my brother is here, my cousins all living in one country, a dream and goal, yeah, I think it’s in the cards for sure.”
For now though, Rose is just happy to be at Wentworth, an event which he has come close to winning on a number of occasions – losing out in a play-off to Anders Hansen in 2007, and finishing second to Luke Donald in 2012.
“Been a crazy year, and obviously first opportunity to really get back and play something on The European Tour, and to watch up with everybody, first time to experience the European Tour bubble side of things. I’m excited about playing golf. This is for me, the BMW PGA Championship is what I’ve always called a bucket list tournament. Delighted to be back.”
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European Tour Release, Oct 08, 2020
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