Rose targets Ryder Cup points

Justin Rose is keen to secure some Ryder Cup points at this weekend's Dunhill Challenge before he launches an attempt to conquer the US Tour.

Rose, who played in nine American tournaments last year, will soon head back to the States even though he knows it will make his Ryder Cup task a bit more difficult.

Rose finished a disappointing joint 23rd at the SAA Open in Erinvale last week, but he will be hoping today's start at Houghton, Johannesburg, will provide the springboard for a good year.

Considering he won the event in 2002, finished second in 2001 and was not far behind eventual winner Mark Foster last year, Rose will be hoping to continue his love affair with the slow running greens in typical rainy English weather.

"I will aim for the Ryder Cup, but keep it in perspective," said Rose, who enjoys South Africa so much that he has bought a house at Fancourt, venue for last year's President's Cup.

"If you look at my schedule, I have made it hard for myself to make the Ryder Cup by playing a bit more in America but it is still possible.

"The way I look at it is, if you play well, it is going to take care of itself so you just have to focus. The Ryder Cup is a goal for sure but if you perform well it will take care of itself."

Rose is off to the Johnnie Walker Classic in Thailand next week before a fortnight's break leads him into a tough schedule of 10 tournaments in 12 weeks in the United States.

"I go to America for 12 weeks leading up to the Masters and then play a couple more after that which will be exciting. It will be interesting to see how I cope with that long period in America.

"The reason that I am doing the 12-week spell is that I am conscious I don't want to be flying back and forwards too much.

"If you take a US Tour card, you have to play 15 tournaments so I was trying to get most of them out the way early so I can play in Europe through the summer and not have to worry about going back to the States."