EXCLUSIVE: Justin Rose has made his feelings clear on players planning to quit LIV Golf and return to the PGA Tour and DP World Tour, and he has big ambitions for himself in 2027
Justin Rose says he holds no ill will toward LIV Golf members who are hoping to rejoin the DP World Tour and PGA Tour(Image: Luke Walker/Getty Images)
NEW DELHI — Justin Rose has “no hard feelings” towards LIV Golf players, and he believes they should be welcomed back by the golf establishment.
The former world No. 1 celebrated Jon Rahm’s decision to quit the embattled breakaway league, which filed for bankruptcy last month after being abandoned by its Saudi paymasters. LIV hopes to relaunch in 2027 and has struck a $300 million rescue deal with private equity and credit firm BC Partners, but it needs requisite player commitments by October 25 to receive the cash.
Two-time major winner Rahm forfeited in the region of $100M in unpaid payments to secure his release, and more high-profile exits could follow with LIV at risk of collapse.
Rose was a prime target for the Greg Norman-led breakaway in 2022, but he turned down a mega-money offer and stuck by the PGA Tour and DP World Tour.
Four years on, the 46-year-old says every player has benefitted from the prize money arms race triggered by LIV’s creation, but he feels the end of the LIV “experiment” would be “good for golf.”
“[Rahm’s departure] is good for the established tours, whether that be the DP World Tour in the short term or the PGA Tour in the long term,” Rose told Mirror Sports U.S.
“Obviously, Jon’s not the only one. There’s a lot of other great players in situations that he’s found himself in. It’s been an experiment; a whirlwind four or five years.
Rose, 46, refuses to bow to Father Time(Image: Luke Walker/Getty images)
“No hard feelings from my point of view. Everyone is welcome back. It’s great for golf for players to be able to play against the best players in the world as often as we can.
“That’s what we’ve always talked about and always wanted. And I think the disruption of it all, the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, have had to become better versions of themselves. I think basically pretty much every player in the game has benefited one way or another, and hopefully it can now settle and we can find a really good balance.”
Rose is in the twilight of a stellar career highlighted by a U.S. Open victory and an Olympic gold medal. The five-time Ryder Cup winner’s prime years ought to be behind him, but he refuses to bow to father time.
He has twice gone within a whisker of Masters glory in the past two years, and he remains talismanic in the blue of Europe. It is the ticking clock in his head that is keeping him as hungry as ever.
“What fuels it is knowing there’s not a huge runway ahead,” he said. “Every year feels even more important to try to make the most of it.
“I still have this overarching belief that I can be better next year than I am now. I really think I can find areas in my game to improve. That’s what drives me more than anything. Playing golf in the biggest arenas and the biggest environments, making memories that you look back on at the end of your career.”
Rose is in action at the DP World India Championship and will have to return on Saturday to ensure he makes the cut after a prolonged thunderstorm on Thursday put the tournament behind schedule.
But it is next year — and a major schedule taking in Augusta National, Pebble Beach and St Andrews, plus a Ryder Cup in Ireland — that is at the front of his mind.
“My head’s in ‘27 already, if I’m honest,” he added. “I feel like there’s been a couple of off-seasons that I’ve muddled through. There’s a bit of a hamster wheel year to year, and occasionally, you just have to hit the brakes. There is plenty to play for next year, especially with the Ryder Cup on the back end.”