Can’t Give Up

By Cole Golden, WGTF Master Golf Teaching Professional

In September, after losing in a playoff at the BMW Championship, Justin Rose gained enough points to take over as the #1 player in the world. Many might remember a young 17-year-old man playing in the 1998 Open Championship as an amateur. Rose holed his last shot from the rough to finish tied for 4th place. It would have been easy for fans to assume that he would be the #1 golfer in the world soon.

But it wasn’t. Rose turned pro shortly after the Open Championship, and missed the cut in his first 21 straight professional tournaments. He finally got his European Tour card in 1999 after making it through qualifying school, but lost it a year later and had to go through qualifying school again. In 2002, Justin won his first tour event in Europe.

Four years of struggle and learning paved the way for Justin to finally win a European Tour event. A few years later found him outside the world’s top 100 players and about to lose his tour card. Rose decided to keep working and revamp his game with the help of Sean Foley. He won his first PGA Tour event in 2010, the Memorial.

In 2013, twelve years after turning professional, he added his first major, the U.S. Open, to his resume. After 20 years, he is finally the #1 player in the world. Our students have goals, ranging from breaking 100 or winning their club championship. We can use Justin’s story as an example to show them that success takes time and patience. Never give up!