Houston, TX …
Olympic Gold Medal winning Justin Rose revealed his pride in being part of a record-setting number of England-born golfers competing in next week’s Masters.
Rose will be making a 12th appearance at Augusta National since his debut in 2003 and with his best finish in sharing second place in 2015 with Phil Mickleson and four shots adrift of American Jordan Spieth.
Joining Rose will be defending Masters Champion, Danny Willett along with Paul Casey, Ross Fisher, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Tommy Fleetwood, British Amateur champion Scott Gregory, Tyrrell Hatton, Andy Sullivan, Lee Westwood and Chris Wood.
All but three in Hatton, Fleetwood and Gregory have already taken the drive down Magnolia Lane.
Justin Rose very proud to head a record-setting 11 England-born players at this year’s Masters.
Hatton and Fleetwood are coming off superb starts to the new season with both players earning enough money to have been recently afforded ‘Special Temporary Membership’ of the PGA Tour for the remainder of the season.
Gregory, 22 won the British Amateur last year at Royal Porthcawl and earlier this week defeated Australian and reigning U.S. Amateur champion, Curtis Luck at the 19th hole in the prestigious Georgia Cup in Atlanta.
The number of England-born players competing in this year’s Masters is one more than the 10 England players that competed in the 1966 Masters, and with that number first setting a record in Masters history with England providing the most number of non-American born competitors.
“I am just so proud to be be one of 11 England-born players competing at the Masters as it just speaks volumes for the strength of England golf at present”, said Rose.
“I’m told it equals the record of England-born golfers ever so that’s just incredible but then you look at the World Rankings, as I was the other week, and I think I counted 13 England players within the top-100 and seven inside the top-50 so that’s just amazing.
“That’s just really, really good for England golf and with guys such as Tyrrell Hatton and Tommy Fleetwood as the newest editions in that top-50 is great.
“You’re then got Danny (Willet) as defending Masters champion and then myself plus the likes of Paul Casey playing well again.
“Westy (Lee Westwood) is up there just outside the 5o and look how close he’s come to winning the Masters so it’s shaping up well for another strong week for England golfers at the Masters.”
Rose indicated that while he would be more than delighted to assist Hatton and Fleetwood in their preparations, he’s been in contact with Gregory to arrange a Tuesday practice round in the company of Portsmouth amateur.
“I’ve arranged for Scott to join me on Tuesday morning given we come for the same part of the world as also my manager knows him well, so it should be great to help Scott out where I can,” said Rose.
“But then I am prepared to help any of the lads and I would not be presumptuous enough that they would want to play with me but if they did and seek me out then I will.
“I remember when I first went to Augusta is was Nick Faldo who I wanted to play a practice round with and he gladly obliged.”
And Rose has defended his decision to skip last week’s $US 9.75m WGC – Dell Match-Play Championship some two-and-a-half-hour drive away north west in Austin to contest this week’s $US 7m Shell Houston Open.
“I just felt I wanted this year to play the week before the Masters and given I was not that keen on playing the Match-Play last week,” he said.
“In heading into Augusta and the Masters I wanted predictable golf tournaments meaning that if I play well, and knowing that I am going to do well, and with the Match-Play a bit of a dicey format that close to the Masters, I wanted to get a good read on my game.
“So, I feel as though I will get that playing here this week in Houston rather than if I had of decided to play in the Match-Play.”
And last Monday, Rose joined Open Champion Henrik Stenson playing an Augusta National practice round and with joint putting coach, Phil Kenyon also making the trip.
“As we share the same putting coach we thought it would be a good idea to take Phil with us because once Masters week starts you can’t take your putting coach onto the greens, so it was really invaluable for both Henrik and I to have Phil with us on Monday.
“I was just trying to get many of the slopes of the greens in my mind and certainly understanding what my scope for how much a ball can break on certain putts.
“So, it was a really good experience and a really valuable day for us.”
