Rose rejoins European Tour

Justin Rose is to rejoin the European tour in the hope of making a Ryder Cup debut in Ireland next September.

The 25-year-old resigned his membership in March to concentrate on the US Tour this season, but will be eligible for Ryder Cup points from November.

Rose, joint third after an opening 65 in the Buick Championship, said: “I am hoping I can turn my form around as it is a lifelong ambition of mine to represent Europe in the Ryder Cup.

“The first European tour event I will play in is the South African Open, but in the meantime I will be trying to improve my world ranking as that’s another way of qualifying.”

Rose has dropped from 70th to 106th in the world this year, but at 98th on the American money list has virtually ensured he keeps his card there for next season.

Fellow Englishman Greg Owen has just resigned his European membership to make the US Tour his priority, but has the option to rejoin at the start of next season like Rose.

The qualifying race starts next week, but by not fulfilling the 11 events required for tour membership they are not allowed to collect either world ranking or Order of Merit points – five qualify for the team off each table - until the 2005-06 season.