Justin Rose is a Certified Dawg

Golf is a young man’s game. We’ve never seen this much pre-drinking-age talent so prepared to win on the biggest stage. The kids aren’t coming, they’re already here.

But don’t tell Justin Rose that. He’s holding it down for the mid-40s flushers.

And the guy has had quite the year.

Last July, he showed up to Royal Troon after working his way through qualifying and nearly won the damn thing. Then, in April, he shot a final-round 66 at the Masters to force a playoff against Rory McIlroy. But for the second time in his career, he fell in extras at Augusta National.

In six starts after the year’s first major and before heading across the pond for a few weeks, Rosey missed three cuts, withdrew from the Truist Championship, and failed to finish inside the top 40. But he fought.

He grabbed solo sixth at the Genesis Scottish Open, tied for 16th at The Open, and arrived at the FedEx St. Jude Championship with regained confidence. And after rounds of 64-66, Rose posted two 67s over the weekend, which was good enough to get into yet another playoff, this time against U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun.

Both players made four on the first extra hole, sending them back to the tee. Then, Spaun, like he’s known to do, buried a 30-foot birdie putt, forcing Rose to make his from seven feet—which he did. On their third trip down the 18th, Rose hit his approach to 12 feet, while Spaun stuffed it to seven. But, as they say, first in wins.

For me, it was hard not to think of this putt from the Ryder Cup when Rose broke out the fist pump in Memphis.

And every time I look at his resume, it gets more impressive. Major champion, gold medal winner, six-time Ryder Cupper, FedExCup champion, 12-time PGA TOUR winner. If that ain’t Hall of Fame worthy, I don’t know what is.

After his W, he’s up to fourth in the FedExCup Rankings and has officially qualified for Team Europe once again.

What I’m trying to say is that Justin Rose is a certified dawg.

I already know he’s going to be a thorn in the side of the Americans, but what I really need to see is a Rose vs. Spaun Sunday Singles match. Give me a rematch of Sunday afternoon.

But while one Englishman added another triumph to his career, another added to his scar tissue. I don’t know where Tommy Fleetwood goes from here. It feels inevitable that he’ll eventually knock one down if he continues to put himself in position, but I’d be lying if I said doubt wasn’t growing.

He’s staying positive, but I’d like to see him enter a final round with some killer instinct instead of saying things like, “who knows, maybe this weekend is the weekend.” Stomp on some heads, Tommy!

One positive thing did come from his week in Memphis, though. Like his buddy Rosey, Fleetwood has qualified for Team Europe—and we all know how big of a problem he is on that stage.

The Europeans are going to be a wagon. Keegan Bradley better come correct.