Order of merit just the job for Justin
He plays almost all of his golf these days in the United States and is only in contention for the Harry Vardon Trophy at Valderrama this week because of the points picked up in tournaments in America such as the Masters and the WGC Bridgestone Invitational.
“I first realised the order of merit was attainable when I finished second at Firestone in September,” admitted the 27-year-old Englishman. “I was then flying up the European order of merit. It was always in my plans to play the Volvo Masters but next year my schedule will again be based from January through September in America, right through the FedEx Cup. It will be somewhat similar to this season.
“But it’s obviously been good for me to rejoin the European Tour. As a player, I’ve always wanted to play both tours and it’s a tough thing to commit to without being in the world’s top 50.”
Rose insists that “winning the order of merit would be a career highlight, the pinnacle. It means you’ve been top dog in Europe for that year and I think that’s a huge, huge honour. It’s something that players have fought hard for in the past. Obviously, Monty protected it and guarded it and fought for it for many years. It was Westwood who broke that run and that was a huge achievement for him. Padraig has talked so much about what it meant to him.”
There was a time, perhaps, when Rose might have wilted when pitted against the reigning order of merit champion who also just happens to be Open champion. Not now though, although he is fulsome in his praise of Harrington.
“He has so many strengths, a great mind, determined, tenacious, a good competitor and obviously a great player,” he commented. “He’s turned into the best player in Europe. I hope that, as I’m in this position, that I’m a lot of those things. It’s his mental qualities that really stick out for me. We can all learn from his work ethic. I don’t mean necessarily having to be out on the practice range all day every day, but I think every decision he makes is based on what’s best for his game. He’s the all-round professional.”
And Rose also appreciates that it helps Harrington that he has found himself in this situation on two previous occasions.
“Every time you go through an experience, it makes you stronger and you get better for it,” he acknowledged. “So, no doubt, it does give him an advantage although at the end of the day, it comes down to who is going to play the best golf this week. Both of us need to finish in the top three. I know what Padraig meant when he said he’d like to go into a play-off with me. That would be brilliant. I hope it comes down to something like that. Last year, it was a close run thing with actually a third player, Garcia, playing a decisive part. That was a real nail biting finish”.
