Veteran Justin Rose backing Ryder Cup youngsters to shine bright in Rome
- Planet Sport writer
- 27 September 2023
Ryder Cup veteran Justin Rose is backing the new stars in Team Europe to perform admirably on the grand stage at Marco Simeone.
The 43-year-old provides a lot of the experience in a fresh-looking home team in Rome as he makes his sixth appearance in the biennial event.
Only Rory McIlroy, who is playing for the seventh time, has appeared more as the Europeans enter a period of transition after their heavy defeat at Whistling Straits two years ago.
Yet Rose has been impressed by the strength of the newer blood and is not expecting his advice to be called upon much in the team room, although it is there if needed.
Rose said: “From an experience point of view, the youngsters do seem very self-assured and that’s part of what they bring to the team and you don’t want to talk them out of that.
“They are experiencing everything for the first time, which I think is wonderful. They haven’t labelled everything yet, so you don’t want to get in there and impose your thoughts too much.
“I think my job as one of the experienced players on the team is to have an open-door policy. If I just make them feel comfortable enough that they want to ask a question, let’s hear it and I’ll do my best to give some type of perspective.
“But I think until that point, just let them roll and I think that’s what they bring to the team, and that’s why they are a very important aspect to the team and I think this team has a beautiful blend to it because of that.”
Besides that Rose, who returns to the side after being overlooked in 2021, claims he still feels like a regular member of the team rather than a senior professional.
The 2013 US Open champion said: “The fact of being back here and playing is something that was a career goal for me and it was a push and not making the last one is always that kick up the backside that you need and lights a fire.
“I think in terms of age, I don’t feel necessarily that that’s my age or that’s a number. I still feel like one of the boys and one of the team members.”
One of the team’s four rookies, Robert MacIntyre, has drawn his inspiration from former team linchpin and captain Colin Montgomerie, his fellow Scot.
Montgomerie featured in eight Ryder Cups as a player – winning five of them – before going on to skipper the side to victory in 2010.
The 27-year-old left-hander said: “Last night I spoke to Monty and, for a Scotsman, Monty was everything – just a little bit before my time but I’ve heard all about him. I’ve watched so many clips about him.
“Monty has done everything in the game of golf. As a European golfer, he’s been an inspiration for many.”
