Defending champion Paul Dunne could bloom this week in playing alongside Justin Rose for the opening two rounds of the Sky Sports British Masters.
Rose is playing host to the event being staged on the famed Walton Heath course that is a former European Open hot venue and since 2005 has hosted a U.S. Open qualifier.
Rose is returning to competition for a first occasion since playing his part in Europe’s stunning seven-point Ryder Cup success and in his first ‘regular’ tournament since capturing the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup crown.
The 2013 US Open winner and 2016 Olympic Games Gold medallist also has won four times in the past 12 months and in four different countries while Rose has enjoyed seven other top-5s around the golfing globe.
Justin Rose playing host to this week’s British Masters (Photo – European Tour)
In contrast, Dunne is coming off missing the cut in last week’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland and also sit out the weekend rounds for a fourth occasion in his past five events.
Dunne also has slipped to 51st on the Race to Dubai and 98th on the World Rankings.
A year ago, Dunne brilliantly chipped-in for birdie at the 72nd hole to deny fellow Irishman Rory McIlroy and take a huge jump on the Rankings with the Greystones golfer picking-up 100 spots to go to 88th in the world.
A second place earlier this year behind Jon Rahm in the Spanish Open saw Dunne move to a then career high of No. 68 while he peaked on the World Rankings at No. 65 two events last in sharing seventh in the Volvo China Open.
Sadly, since then it has been a slow slide down the rankings to his current ranking.
Paul Dunne brilliantly answered Rory McIlroy’s challenge to win a maiden Tour title. (Photo – European Tour/Gettys)
Rose, in contrast, is on a high having peaked at World No. 1 in finishing runner-up last month in the BMW Championship and while he is presently World No. 2, the Englishman still has much to accomplish.
“I would say I’ve accomplished a lot of my dreams, for sure,” he said.
“This season has given me a couple more strings to my bow, to be able to say I’ve got to world number one is a nice tag line and it’s a nice milestone to say you’ve achieved in your career and in your sport.
“There is still plenty more to achieve, obviously I’d love to win more major championships, as a kid that’s what I dreamed about. I’d love to win three more and I’d love to win the right three.
“A career grand slam would be the icing on the cake but there’s a lot of hard work there. I still love the game, I’m not complacent.”
