Justin Rose: 'I would love to push myself to try and win another major championship' in New Delhi ahead of DP World India Championship
Justin Rose said "I would love to push myself to try to win another major championship" at a press conference held at Delhi Golf Club in New Delhi on October 15, 2026 as he prepares to play the DP World India Championship.
The South Africa-born Englishman, a 13-time PGA Tour winner, captured the U.S. Open in 2013 — his only major — and reached world No. 1 in September 2018, becoming the fourth English player to do so after Nick Faldo, Lee Westwood and Luke Donald. Now 46 and ranked 18th on the Official World Golf Ranking, Rose won the Farmers Insurance Open in February with a tournament-record 23-under par and led the Masters by two shots in the final round in April before finishing tied for third. This visit to India is his second; his first trip came 22 years ago when he played a skins game at DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurgaon.
On the significance of staging a tournament in India, Rose said: "It is fantastic to be playing golf in this region. It’s a country that is exploding in many, many ways, and I think that there is a commitment to golf here, with great sponsors and backers. This is an important time for golf to grow all around the world." He added: "What a field they have assembled here. Hopefully, that creates the interest that will help golf grow in this area."
Describing his personal connection to the country, Rose said: "I have accumulated some Indian friends through the years. From what I’ve noticed, Indians are very proud of their country. Anybody who has any sort of influence here in India really wants to share it and show you the magic of India." He also spoke about food, saying: "I live in England, so of course I love Indian food. I’m not sure how authentic we make it in the U.K., but the national dish is chicken tikka masala. It is the most ordered dish in England. I am a big fan of Indian food."
Asked about the Delhi Golf Club layout, Rose said: "I can’t tell you too much because I haven’t been on the golf course yet. But I’ve spoken to my friend, Tommy Fleetwood, and guys who were here last year. It’s a very unique golf course — very traditional and very old-school. There is no real need for distance off the tee. The driver stays in the bag. The DGC is a 250-yard, good second-shot type of golf course. Long and mid irons will be the most important part this week. Getting on the fairways and greens will be a huge premium."
On motivation and maintaining form, Rose reflected that his goals extend beyond past achievements and the pursuit of another major to include creating memories by competing in high-pressure moments. He said he has "been able to build a nice resume, but I’ve only achieved those high levels once," and noted the challenge of staying competitive amid a strong field, adding: "That is really the goal. Can I be better next year? I’m 47 next year. That shouldn’t be possible, but I think it is possible. It is a personal battle, I suppose." He also addressed his near-miss at Augusta: "This year, I turned up at Augusta with a sense that people were rooting for me because I have come so close to winning in the past. You can sense the sort of frustration of the crowd that you haven’t been able to win, but you can’t let that become part of your own story. I can only control my own performance and how I break down the golf course. I’ve been incredibly close. I’ve had three runner-up finishes at the Masters. This year felt like a second-place finish, although it was a third. I feel like I played well enough to win the tournament, so my mindset would be to do nothing different."
Rose outlined how the modern game's emphasis on power affects his preparation and cited examples of changing ball speeds on tour, saying: "I guess that’s my job, especially this off-season. I have to try and figure out if there are some gains to be had, if I can push myself physically, and if there are some power and distance gains to be made. I also have to be realistic that pushing too hard at my age in certain areas comes with risks." He added: "You see many college players coming out on tour now with 180-mile-an-hour ball speed. When I first arrived on tour, John Daly was the only one with 180-mile-an-hour ball speed. He was the outlier. Now it’s the average. I fit somewhere below that average, but not by much. I need to compete by being consistent in everything."
Speaking about a recent Ryder Cup gathering and his interest in cricket, Rose said: "It was the first opportunity for (Team Europe captain) Luke Donald to get the group together. It was an important trip for players who haven’t played the Ryder Cup before. It was good for rookies to be around the team and feel the energy of a Ryder Cup. Luke talked a little bit about how he envisions the strategy and the plan for the next year or so. It was more of a boys’ trip — casual golf, a nice dinner, and a little bit of discussion. It wasn’t very intense." On cricket, he added: "I hope the energy of cricket comes through here in India. I know (former England cricketer) Kevin Pietersen quite well. We live in the same area back in England. I know he’s also a big name and brand over here. I think he’ll be around the golf tournament this week. If we can have some fun along the way, that will be great. Perhaps you can get some batting practice… Yes, sure, I can do some batting and maybe bowl my famous googly too (laughs)."
Rose will compete in the DP World India Championship in New Delhi and said he plans to enjoy local cuisine while in the city, noting his fondness for Indian food and a hope to sample a tandoori meal during his stay.