07 February 2023 , 09:45
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Justin Rose turned down the LIV Golf millions taken by his European Ryder Cup teammates and now feels vindicated after winning for the first time in four years.
Rose, 42, soared back into contention for captain Luke Donald's team in Rome this September with a three-shot victory at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on Monday.
The Englishman ended a long barren spell with the sort of clinical display that once lifted him to world no.1 as he carded a final round 66 in the weather-delayed tournament on the iconic Californian links.
It was a welcome return to prominence for classy performer Rose, who had slipped down the rankings and was in danger of missing out on the Masters after entering the week as world no.71. But his 11th PGA Tour triumph has lifted him back into the world's top 40 and his place at Augusta in April and the PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club in May is now secure.
Rose could have been considered a classic LIV target given his age-profile, status as a former major champion and uncertainty over whether he could recover his splendour to consistently compete in the biggest tournaments again.
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And his fellow Ryder Cup stalwarts - including Lee Westwood, Henrik Stenson and Sergio Garcia - jumped ship to join the contentious Saudi-backed enterprise last year.
But the former US Open winner and Olympic gold medallist explained after the memorable victory at Pebble Beach that his ambition to compete for more majors put a LIV move out of the question.
Rose secured his 11th PGA Tour title at Pebble Beach (Getty Images)“Access to the major championships was a large part of my decision,” he said. "Obviously playing in events like this that have a great history, that give access to an iconic course, that really counts… winning events that matter.
"But first and foremost it’s playing in majors. I have won one, but that’s where my childhood dreams lay and that’s what is really, really important to me going forward.”
Rose agonisingly missed out on the European team who were humiliated with a record defeat to the USA at Whistling Straights in 2021. But with a series of LIV defections, a changing of the European guard is inevitable at the Marco Simone course this autumn and Rose has moved up to ninth in the Worlds Points list in the year-long qualification rankings.
And Rose - an integral part of three winning European teams - could provide some crucial experience for skipper Donald in a youthful team that will be headed by Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm.
Donald would have been encouraged by Rose's return to form (Warren Little/Getty Images)"I haven't even entertained what the Ryder Cup looks like for me, other than I want to be there,' Rose admitted. "What was really important to me was getting off to a good start on the PGA Tour so I wasn't under pressure later in the season, so I could turn my attentions to the Ryder Cup and the European Tour.
"The plan has gone pretty perfectly, to be honest with you. Three really good solid weeks out here and I have built a platform now to be able to look at the rest of the year in a much more positive light and start earning points.
"Obviously I would love to play my way onto the team. But I wanted to be a player that if I'm playing well, Luke has to consider and feel good about being part of this team."