Rose to ignore Monty plea

Rose: no plans to play Gleneagles

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Justin Rose insists he has no plans to play at next month's Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles - even if he is not certain of his Ryder Cup place.

European captain Colin Montgomrie has already stated that he expects any player in contention for one of his three wild cards to be at Gleneagles for the final qualifying event.

The Scot said last month: "I want to see them showing support for European golf and the European Tour and I will be very, very surprised if they are not there.

"To be there would make a whole lot of sense to a whole lot of people. I will have around eight candidates for three spots.

"I shouldn't have to ask those eight to play at Gleneagles. They will be there."

However, Rose - who has won twice in America this season - has made it crystal clear that he will not be attending, claiming that his priority is the PGA Tour's end of season FedEx Cup play-offs.

Comfortable

"If I get blamed for that well... I am comfortable with my decision," he stated.

"The Ryder Cup is important to me, but I'm third in the FedEx Cup standings and that's where my focus is going to be then."

Rose, who is playing at the European Tour's Irish Open this week, could still be among the nine who qualify automatically, but even a third victory in five starts at Killarney would leave him with ground to make up at next week's world championship event in Akron.

After that comes the final major of the season, the US PGA Championship at Whistling Straits, and only at the end of that are several stars likely to know where they stand.

Paul Casey, Padraig Harrington, Rose, Henrik Stenson, Edoardo Molinari and Sergio Garcia are all, like Rose, outside the top nine at the moment with competition for places on Montgomerie's side fierce.

Fantastic time

Two years ago Rose did come back to Europe to secure his debut and, even though it was a defeat, he describes himself as having "a fantastic time" in the match against America at Valhalla.

"That was on a losing team away, so to play on a home team and have the opportunity to win would be incredible," he continued.

"I feel that's a team I really, really want to be part of. There are six or seven guys who are very, very realistic possibilities for wild cards.

"That means, obviously, 50% chance or less. It could be the hardest team to get into ever.

"But I have a great opportunity to qualify on my own, so that's as far as I'm really looking at it to be honest with you.

"I think the more realistic wild card options that play well in the next few weeks will make Monty's decision easier."

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