Fort Worth Invitational Power Rankings: Top 10 picks for Colonial
For what Justin Rose lacks in flash he makes up for in consistency. Rose has made much of just eight starts in 2018, making every cut and finishing T52 or better everywhere he’s gone.
Rose was in the hunt at the Valspar Championship (T5, three shots back) and the Arnold Palmer Invitational (3rd, four back). He also posted a solid T12 at Augusta.
The Englishman is 4-for-4 in cuts made at Colonial all coming in 2010 and prior. He’s back for the first time in eight years due to a PGA Tour rule implemented in 2016-17.
A player who completed fewer than 25 events the season prior must add an event to their schedule they haven’t played in the last four seasons.
A fine or suspension likely awaits violators, though the PGA Tour is generally mum about how they police their players specifically.
"“It was a very difficult decision to miss Wentworth, but I felt I had to bite the bullet,” Rose said. “I’m a bit of a victim of the new PGA Tour rule. There were only a few options, and they included the John Deere [Classic] and the Wyndham [Championship] – but I wanted to play the Scottish Open before the Open at Carnoustie, so that ruled out John Deere,” Rose was quoted by The Telegraph."
“And the Wyndham falls at a tough time, just before the FedEx Cup series, especially in Ryder Cup year because you don’t want to be over-golfed at that time of year. So playing Colonial [the week of Wentworth] was pretty much the only option, and it fits in well leading up to the US Open.”
Rose went onto explain that he’s in favor of the rule and is eager to see the BMW move to September going forward.
For now, it’s time to ramp up toward the US Open for Rose. This will be just his second post-Masters start.
Rose is positive in all the major strokes gained categories highlighted by 15th in putting. He’s 32nd in greens in regulation and 21st in strokes gained off the tee.
If he has a high finish this week as I anticipate, maybe Rose will become a regular in Fort Worth after all.