Justin Rose will reluctantly part with the U.S. Open trophy following this week’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
The gleaming trophy that was handed to Rose nearly a year ago at Merion will be on display on the first tee before being shipped back to the USGA offices at Far Hills in New Jersey.
Rose proudly had the trophy with him on Tuesday night at the annual European Tour ‘black tie’ dinner.
Justin Rose reveals his four year sol ate ice cream from US Open trophy. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
“It was an honour to have the trophy there last night at the Player Awards dinner,” said Rose. “For years I’ve seen all the biggest trophies in the game sit proudly on the first tee during this championship. So, yeah, it’s an amazing feeling for that to be my turn now.”
However Rose will have the trophy in his possession for just a couple of days once his Wentworth commitments are complete.
“I think it gets FedEx’ed after this week,” he said.
“So I’m not sure I get my hands on it again. So it’s time to think about winning it now.”
He was specially asked by www.golfbytourmiss.com what has been the best place he’s had the trophy along with the reaction from those seeing the trophy.
“The best place it’s been has been in my house because I enjoy it every day,” he said.
“I walk past it, it sits on the piano, which is in the living room. So pretty much every day, I walk back and forth, back and forth.
“About a week or two ago I put it on the dresser that we have in our bedroom. So just wake up ‑‑ I thought, really we’re getting to the last few weeks I’m going to really stride and enjoy it now. Basically every morning I woke up and I would see it.
“I think the biggest perk of winning the was sitting in the Royal Box at Wimbledon and seeing Andy Murray win there. So that was a pretty special occasion.”
And Rose revealed what he described as some ‘fun facts’ surrounding the trophy while it’s been in his possession.
“Leo (four year old son) ate some ice cream out of it so he was the first to christen the trophy,” said Rose smiling.
“I had not even had a drink but he had some ice cream out of it and we got some great video, I think will last a lifetime, and some great memories. It holds five bottles of champagne, just FYI.”
Rose will be presented with a 90% replica of the trophy while he ordered to 50% size replicas with one to be donated to his beloved Royal Hants Golf Club and one to his caddy, Mark ‘Fooch’ Fulcher.
