Ryder Cup icon lifts lid on battle for Bethpage spot as he makes final push
Justin Rose says keeping his mind clear is key to making Luke Donald's team for the clash against United States
Focused Justin Rose reckons blanking Ryder Cup thoughts offers him the best chance of making it to Bethpage.
The English star is in line for a stunning seventh appearance in the matches against the United States next month in New York.
Rose is currently outside of the automatic qualification spots, but his experience and excellent form in big events this year have put him bang in contention to link-up again with the European side as they aim to triumph again away from home.
The 45-year-old was part of the side that famously won at Medinah in 2012 and he fancies another crack, but says keeping it out of his mind offers his best shot at making Luke Donald’s side.
Rose said: “You always want to show form. I can still qualify for the team by right which should always be nice I’m in eighth position, I’d like to be top-six to not have to rely on a pick, but I feel like I’m in a good spot.
"I’m not really putting pressure on myself with the Ryder Cup. I feel like that’s never the way to play well. So I’m not really thinking about that at all, if I’m honest.”
Rose’s ability to raise his game for the biggest stages was evident again this year as took Rory McIlroy to a play-off at The Masters.
He freely admits it’s been an up and down year, but added: “I don’t mind as long as I know my good is good enough. I think that to feel like you’re good’s not good enough, you feel like you’re wasting your time out here, but I know when I play well I can compete with the best of them any time or any golf course, That’s kind of all the matters to me.
“I suppose I’d love consistency. Don’t get me wrong. I’m striving for it and it’s a mark of obviously your skill set being really really sharp if you can play consistently well. But at least I know it’s sort of still there or thereabouts.
“I’ve got a busy life a lot of travel back and forth. I live in England. I’ve got a family, 16-year-old, 13-year-old, I’ve got a lot of pulls on my time and can’t be completely selfish to the game. So I do have to work my spots where I can give it everything and try to peak for certain weeks, yeah.”
Rose overcome illness to make a flying start at the FedEx St Jude Championship and said: “I must have just picked something up travelling over to the States and it took a couple of days to manifest.
"Monday night, Tuesday, I really wasn’t feeling great. I don’t really think there was much of a detriment to not having played much practise rounds this week. Maybe come Sunday, it’s a good thing with less time in the heat!”