Justin Rose has opened up about his decision to turn down LIV Golf and how it’s affected his career, as he gets ready for the 2025 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow.
The 44-year-old Englishman admits it was tempting to join LIV Golf, like many of his former Ryder Cup teammates—Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia, and others—when it launched in 2022. But for Rose, staying eligible for majors and the Ryder Cup was more important than chasing the big payday.
Since saying no to LIV, Rose has had a mixed run in the majors, missing several cuts. However, he’s shown he can still compete at the highest level—finishing second at the 2024 Open Championship and pushing Rory McIlroy to a playoff at the 2025 Masters. He also played a key role for Europe in the 2023 Ryder Cup and is currently in strong contention for a spot on this year’s team.
Speaking to The Telegraph, Rose said staying on the traditional path has “almost paid off” and that he has no regrets, especially given his strong performances in recent majors. He added, “Would I even have been playing in those tournaments if I’d gone to LIV? Who knows?”
He also reflected on the moment McIlroy completed his career Grand Slam by winning the Masters. Rose was seen giving McIlroy a warm hug on the 18th green, congratulating him on making history. Surprisingly, Rose said he got more messages after that moment than when he won the U.S. Open in 2013.
He admitted he didn’t think he did anything extraordinary—he just wanted to be there for a friend, even though he was dealing with his own disappointment. “Maybe there was more going on behind the scenes,” he said.
