Rose won’t medal in team prep with his Olympic gold

68 Sunday Mail

Justin Rose holed his final putt at Bethpage Black last month with the Olympic gold medal around his neck.

But the Englishman says the gong won’t be making an appearance in the Ryder Cup locker room – not until Team Europe has the full set.

Caddie Mark Fulcher put the medal around Rose’s neck before he tapped in on the 72nd at The Barclays, his first appearance following the Rio triumph.

The 36-year-old produced it again at the pro- am dinner ahead of teeing up in the BMW Championship at Crooked Stick last Thursday.

However, Rose – who pipped Europe team-mate Henrik Stenson in Rio – said: “I don’t think the gold medal has a place at the Ryder Cup and certainly not within that team environment.

“I don’t see the gold medal as an inspirational tool as the Ryder Cup is bigger than any one individual. But then if we had all three – the gold, silver and the bronze – then you’re talking differently.

“We’ve got two of the three with Henrik capturing the silver medal.”

While the pair may boast medals, it’s their fitness that will be of more immediate concern to Europe captain Darren Clarke.

Rose looks set to end his PGA Tour season later today in Indianapolis given only the top 30 in the FedEx Cup standings will tee up at the Tour Championship.

And Stenson skipped the penultimate Tour event amid a right- knee injury that led him to withdraw after one round at The Barclays.

Despite his f i tne s s struggle, Rose (below) insists he’ll be ready to play in all five sessions for a third Ryder Cup in a row if asked to step up by Clarke.

He said: “My fitness is not where I would want it to be so I do need to be careful.

“At this stage I would hate to write the year off as it has been great, winning the gold medal, but also a tough year injury-wise.

“I have not been in physical pain so that’s why it’s easy to push yourself. But I haven’t really been at my best all year and I’ve not been physically 100 per cent.

“I am up for al l f ive sessions if Darren asks me, for sure. That is what I am work ing towards and expecting from him so I am trying to prepare myself for that task 100 per cent. “But then if the team is playing really well, Darren will have the option of resting a few of the

guys.”