Justin Rose: Europe's stabilizing force as Ryder Cup approaches
At 45, Rose anchors Team Europe with veteran leadership and a proven partnership record
Justin Rose remains Team Europe’s stabilizing force as the Ryder Cup approaches, embracing the role of elder statesman on a squad that blends seasoned veterans with rising stars. At 45, Rose has six Ryder Cup appearances — one shy of Rory McIlroy — and his experience is cited as a cornerstone for the European rotation and team culture. He made his Ryder Cup debut in 2008, and his long track record has made him a go-to partner for players hoping to learn what it takes to perform under pressure.
In 2023 in Rome, Rose was paired with Robert MacIntyre and the duo earned wins in both of their matches as Europe defeated the Americans. Rose downplayed personal credit for the success, saying, "Ultimately, to be the best leader is by being the best version of yourself and leading by example," and adding, "So that's why I felt like at the last Ryder Cup, essentially, I just had to remember all the things that work for me and try to sort of basically lead by example." He added, "But I guess it helped me more than it helped Bob, is what I would say to that." Teammate Tommy Fleetwood described Rose as a quiet leader who leads by example without raising his voice: Fleetwood, a teammate since 2018, said Rose doesn’t need to raise his voice to lead and instead leads by example in how he prepares and conducts himself on the course.
Rose is currently ranked 14th in the world and owns a 14-9-3 Ryder Cup record, including a 7-2-1 mark in foursomes. He has stressed the value of mutual respect with a partner: "The ability to not feel like you have to say 'sorry' to your partner; having enough of a comfort level where if things go wrong, there’s not that moment where heads go down and you feel like you’re letting one another down. That’s kind of like the line you can’t cross," he said.
As Europe readies for the 2025 Ryder Cup, Rose’s role continues to be about sustaining performance and mentoring younger teammates while still competing at a high level. The elder statesman label fits him, not because of loud leadership, but because of consistency, preparation, and a demonstrated willingness to lead by example.