Justin Rose has an important role to play if Europe are to win their first away Ryder Cup since 2012.
Rose, who was on the winning European team at Medinah 13 years ago, is the oldest and second-most experienced player at this year’s event.
Of everyone at Bethpage Black, only Rory McIlroy (eight) has played in more Ryder Cups than Rose (seven).
But at 45 years old, one might assume that this will be his last. Here is what fellow Englishman Tommy Fleetwood thinks.
- READ MORE: Tommy Fleetwood says if he is concerned about the behaviour of US fans at the Ryder Cup this week
Tommy Fleetwood expects Justin Rose to play in another Ryder Cup
Tommy Fleetwood discussed the recent transition of the European team in his press conference before the Ryder Cup.
He initially joined a team full of Ryder Cup legends, and now only Rose and McIlroy remain from that generation.
“I remember making my first team in Paris,” Fleetwood said. “I think when you look back, there were a few of us, I think me, Jon [Rahm], Tyrrell [Hatton], Alex Noren, the guys that are here this week, that was our debut in the Ryder Cup.
“And we definitely came into a team that was full of, I would say, this era’s Team Europe’s Ryder Cup legends. That was very cool when you look back and you look at that one.
“Then, as you’ve seen, Europe took a transition over the last two or three years into what the team has now become, and that always happens. Things transition, and now we’ve got this group of players.
“But I think Paris and Whistling Straits were very much those guys that have been stalwarts of Team Europe for so long that have had so much success, have had so much experience. Being part of those teams was amazing, and you had those natural leaders in the room.
“Then to Rome and this one, I guess it’s kind of a little bit changing of the guard in terms of experience, but I think the team now is more… I think everybody is a bit more on a level playing field, and you have your guys like Rory, as if he’s playing an eighth Ryder Cup. It’s unbelievable.”
Fleetwood was then extremely complimentary of his European teammate, Rose, for leading by example at every Ryder Cup.
He also suggested that Bethpage Black will not be the last Ryder Cup that Rose plays in his career.
“Then there’s Justin. And I think you look at those personalities, and Justin has always been someone I’ve been close to and looked up to in the way he conducts himself, in the way he goes about his game,” Fleetwood continued.
“He’s very much a leadership-by-example person. He doesn’t need to raise his voice or speak loudly or be the motivating force in terms of that. He’s there, he has plenty of words of wisdom, and he leads by example in how he prepares himself and conducts himself on the golf course.
“I feel lucky that I’ve been able to spend so much time with him and learn so much from being around him in terms of how he does things. Yeah, he isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, I don’t think.”
Tommy Fleetwood names the loudest player in the European Ryder Cup team
Fleetwood was asked to name the “noisiest” player in the European locker room at the Ryder Cup.
As previously mentioned, Rose’s leadership style is to show the other players how to act rather than tell them.
Instead, Fleetwood gave the title to McIlroy, who has as much passion for the Ryder Cup as any current golfer.
“Noisiest? Well, there are a few of them. I’d probably give Rory that mantle,” Fleetwood responded.
With so much experience, McIlroy knows what it takes to win the event, and he is seemingly not afraid to make his feelings known.
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