Justin Rose has given an emphatic ‘yes’ to the possibility of captaining Team Europe at the Ryder Cup – but he still has a burning desire to play. Rose, 45, helped the Europeans to an epic 15 to 13 victory over the USA at the weekend, securing back-to-back Ryder Cups and their first on American soil since 2012.

The Englishman was part of that team who triumphed in Medinah, Illinois 13 years ago, and more than a decade later, he’s still doing it against the Americans. But Rose has been tipped for a different role at the next Ryder Cup in 2027. With Luke Donald having led the side for the last two editions, it’s been speculated that he’ll hand over the captaincy when Team Europe bid for a three-peat at Adare Manor in Ireland. So would Rose be willing to take on the mantle?

“Luke has been absolutely phenomenal,” Rose told talkSPORT. “He’s really given his heart and soul to this thing for four years now.

“He’s left a seriously strong blueprint and has actually made it very daunting for the next guy. The European legends of the game have always said, play, play, play, play as long as you can, because they’re the best days of your life.

“There’s time for vice captains, there’s time for captaincy. And when it’s the right time, if I’m ever asked, oh my God, yes please. But I love being in battle.

“It fires me up. It takes me to a place I didn’t know I could go. And I think after being a pro for 28 years, I’ve had to go places this week where I’ve never been before. It’s tested my resolve.

“I feel like I’ve never played in an environment like this before. So to feel like I’m learning as a player at 45 is incredible. And I think that I need to protect that as long as I can.”

As for Donald and his captaincy plans, he said amid Sunday’s celebrations: “I don’t think my heart can take two more years… We’ll see. My answer is I’m going to enjoy tonight.”



By Nathan Ridley

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