Justin Rose wants top grade Dubai finish

Joy Chakravarty 16:48 18/11/2015
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Rose admitted he has been happy with his performances in the Majors this season.

    Justin Rose is very hard to please. Especially when it comes to assessing his own golf.

    The 35-year-old Englishman, who won the European Tour Order of Merit in 2007, has a chance once again to win the Race to Dubai this week. He is third in the rankings, and a win this week at the DP World Tour Championship will, in all likelihood, win him the Race to Dubai crown as well.

    – UAE: Cricket stars play at Emirates Golf Club
    – UAE: Audi Quattro Cup financial boost
    – #360view: Willett keeps McIlroy on his toes in R2D
    – #360view: Dubuisson’s resurgence is great for golf

    Rose’s position in Race to Dubai has been built upon a solid season in the majors, in which he was tied second in the Masters, tied sixth at the Open Championship and fourth at the PGA Championship. He also won the Hong Kong Open last month, as well as the Zurich Classic on the PGA Tour.

    That should make anyone with the year’s work, but not the world No5.

    Rose did not mark himself high when asked to rate himself for the season, but said it would change if he win the DP World Tour Championship come Sunday.

    “I think having won now in Hong Kong, I think it goes up to certainly the B-plus, A-minus range,” said Rose.

    Rose will play his first round with Shane Lowry, who is No.4 on the Race to Dubai.

    “My play in the major championships I think was probably a highlight. I think I was maybe fourth all-time average low score in the majors combined. I think that’s something to be proud of. All three, the Masters, Open and the PGA Championship, I had a chance to win on Sunday. Those are good positions to put yourself in.

    “Obviously you can really build a great European Tour season around playing well in the major championships, and that’s what I’ve done this year. You always want to win tournaments and I felt like I played very, very well through summer without having won.

    “Won the Zurich Classic back in April I guess, and then through the summer, created a few chances to win, had not won, so it was important for me to get to that win in Hong Kong just to keep that winning feeling.

    “Yeah, for the most part, it’s been a very good year coming into here and this would be obviously icing on the cake.”

    The consistency that he has shown this year has given Rose the belief that he could aspire to become the No1 player in the world.

    “I would say it’s on my radar. For the first time I feel like it’s a realistic goal, the way I’m playing, the consistency with which I’m playing,” said Rose, who has previously climbed to No3 in the world rankings a couple of times.

    “I feel like if I get a hot run where I win a couple of majors and a couple of other tournaments, I’m right there to be world No1.

    “You see Jason Day and Jordan (Spieth) and Rory (McIlroy), the way they have been trading around this year; and obviously those are guys I play golf with a lot, and you see their games and you obviously sometimes feel that there’s no reason why I can’t play to that level, as well.

    “Yeah, the world No1, I’m still a long way away from it. It needs a very special run, but I believe it’s possible.”

    That hot run could well start tis week at the DP World Tour Championship. Rose is feeling pretty good about his chances because of his past record at the Earth course. He holds the course record of 10-under par 62, shot in the final round of 2012 edition, and was tied second again last year.

    “Obviously, I always enjoy finishing the season here in Dubai. It’s a course that’s really been good for me and I really enjoy playing. I’ve played well here the last few years and I come in here with the exciting chance of trying to win the Race to Dubai. It’s going to be a fun week,” said Rose. 

    “I actually don’t know the maths on it. But the way I see it, if I win this tournament, I would be very unlucky not to win the Race to Dubai. So for the most part I’ve done my job of getting to this point in the season.”

    Rose play the first round in the company of the Shane Lowry, who is No.4 on the Race to Dubai, and tee off at 12:30.

    Recommended