When Justin Rose said no to LIV Golf, it wasn’t out of spite, politics, or peer pressure — it was personal. It was about the 12-year-old version of himself, the one who dreamed of major championships, Ryder Cups, and moments that money can’t buy. And at 45, he’s proving that loyalty to the grind, to the challenge, and to the dream can still pay off.
Rose, who was among the high-profile European names targeted by LIV when it exploded onto the men’s golf scene in 2022, watched as friends and longtime Ryder Cup comrades like Ian Poulter, Henrik Stenson, Sergio Garcia, Martin Kaymer, and Graeme McDowell took the leap. He didn’t follow. And now, two years later, it’s hard to argue he made the wrong call.
He was a crucial part of Europe’s victory in Rome in 2023 and has already qualified for next month’s Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black. Just last week, he lifted his 12th PGA Tour trophy with a gutsy playoff win in Memphis. And he came heartbreakingly close to adding a second major to his résumé at both the 2025 Masters and the Open at Royal Troon.
Justin Rose Speaks His Mind on a Podcast
Speaking on the No Laying Up podcast, Rose made it clear: “LIV didn’t offer me that at all.”
He wasn’t taking shots at anyone. He holds no grudge against those who made the jump. But for him, it was always about earning his place, chasing something more than just a check. “I just felt like I had more to give myself… I needed to believe in the 12-year-old me,” Rose said.
And that belief is paying off. His runner-up finishes at Augusta and Royal Troon weren’t just emotional, they were inspiring. He earned his way into the Open via a 36-hole qualifier. And at Augusta, he lost a playoff to Rory McIlroy in what was one of the most riveting final rounds in Masters history.
“I didn’t really have any business believing I could win a major again,” Rose admitted. “But I truly do believe I can have that Indian summer to my career.”
He’s not guaranteed anything, and that’s exactly what he likes about it. No handouts, no automatic entry. Just grit, form, and that childlike hunger that hasn’t left him. “You have got to earn everything,” Rose said. “That’s what I like about it.”
Captaincy on the Horizon or a Playing Spot Still Possible?
Rose’s renaissance has made one thing very interesting. He’s not just being considered as Europe’s next Ryder Cup captain for 2027 at Adare Manor — he might still be good enough to play. Rose has been open about wanting the captaincy, but even he acknowledges that the timing will never feel “perfect.”
“It’s a big commitment,” Rose said. “It’s an undertaking that is really, really important.”
But if his current form holds? There’s a chance he could end up doing both — playing and leading. It would be a rare and fitting twist in a career that’s always leaned into the long game.
Meanwhile, a Captain’s Dilemma in the U.S. Camp
On the other side of the pond, U.S. captain Keegan Bradley finds himself in an awkward, very 2025 problem. He’s the captain. He’s also playing like someone who should be on the team. Currently ranked 10th in the Ryder Cup standings, he’s good. He’s just not auto-qualified good. Does he pick himself? Or sit it out in the name of optics?
Rose weighed in with empathy: “He’s almost played too well for his own liking in a sense,” he said, praising Bradley’s passion and fire. “If he thinks, ‘Damn, I’m playing well, I need to win points,’ he’s going to do it that way.”
The reality is, if Keegan weren’t playing this well, the answer would be simple: don’t even think about it. But he is. And if you’re a captain whose job is to win points… why not bet on yourself?
Rose is still chasing dreams. Bradley’s stuck in one. And with the Ryder Cup now just weeks away, both men are defining what modern leadership looks like in golf — one with loyalty and longevity, the other with passion and performance.
