6 days ago
DP World Tour Player Hints at Superficial Side of Justin Rose's Career
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Justin Rose is well known for his expressive displays on the golf course. A close example is his recent victory at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, where he was seen pumping his fist in victory, while his energetic celebrations at the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome are also well-remembered.
His demeanor, both on and off the courses, makes him seem completely genuine in his reactions. However, one of his countrymen, Eddie Pepperell, recently cast some doubt on this.
Days before Rose won in Memphis, Pepperell gave an interview to the National Club Golfer Podcast. Speaking about the Ryder Cup as a phenomenon, he made some surprising statements about Rose.
"The (Ryder Cup) one in Rome was just brilliant," Pepperell said. "It was Justin (Rose) holing that putt on the 18th and going mad. I always think, with somebody like Justin Rose, how much of it is superficial and how much of it is real. Because, no disrespect to Justin, I think that he's done things in his career where there's been a bit of superficiality involved."
Justin Rose of England reacts after making a birdie on the 18th hole during a playoff against J.J. Spaun during the final round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship 2025 at TPC Southwind on August...
Justin Rose of England reacts after making a birdie on the 18th hole during a playoff against J.J. Spaun during the final round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship 2025 at TPC Southwind on August 10, 2025 in Memphis, Tennessee. MorePepperell didn't go into detail about the moments in Rose's career where "superficiality" has surfaced. In fact, he later acknowledged him as a great player.
"I take nothing away from him. I find him great, he's absolutely fantastic."
Rose has had a great Ryder Cup career, with six appearances, winning four of them (2012, 2014, 2018, 2023). The Englishman has scored 15.5 points for the European team throughout his career, and his best performance came in 2014 at Gleneagles, when he secured four points thanks to three wins and two draws, and was the team's best player.
During his interview, Pepperell also hinted that the team spirit that shines through at the Ryder Cup is very real, but that it has grown over time.
"I would say, having played a lot of golf with a lot of them or some golf with a lot of the guys that are part of these Ryder Cup teams now, it seems more real now than it's ever been," he said. "I know that the team captains in Europe have worked incredibly hard at trying to engender a great team spirit and they've clearly succeeded in that."
"So all these guys, Rory (McIlroy), Tommy (Fleetwood), they just love being part of that team environment. And, so I think that it is genuine and, and it's infectious, you know, it definitely comes through the TV screen."
Eddie Pepperell has been playing professional golf since 2011, primarily on European tours. He has won two tournaments on the DP World Tour.
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