Justin Rose bidding for third win of the year at Indonesian Masters
Wednesday 13 December 2017 13:45, UK
Justin Rose is determined to end a "great year" on another high as he headlines this week's Indonesian Masters in Jakarta.
Rose has not won three times in a calendar year since 2002, and he will start the final event of the Asian Tour season as a strong pre-tournament favourite ahead of Kiradech Aphibarnrat and American Ryder Cup star Brandt Snedeker.
The Englishman came close to pulling off a shock Race to Dubai victory when he won back-to-back titles at the WGC-HSBC Champions and the Turkish Airlines Open, and he opened up a commanding lead at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship before faltering over the back nine on the final day.
His late stutter allowed Tommy Fleetwood to be crowned European No 1, but Rose is confident of landing a third win since the end of October before he takes his winter break.
"It has been a great year, I had two great wins, and a good year does need victories," he said. "To have those two wins makes it a really good year. My goal is to win three times this year by winning this week. The last time I won three times in a year was back in 2002.
"This is my first time to Jakarta and I have really enjoyed my time here so far. This course has really impressed me. I heard good things about it from Lee Westwood and Bernd Wiesberger. The guys talked highly of this place, it is in great condition and I am really looking forward to playing.
"It is a fun golf course. You feel like if you play well you can go and make a score, but there is plenty of trouble as well with lots of water. You've got to play well here.
Rose will play the first two rounds with Gavin Green, who is already assured of being the first Malaysian to win the Asian Tour Order of Merit having opened up an unassailable lead with his tie for 19th at last week's Joburg Open.
"Gavin's obviously having an exceptional year and to wrap it up so early he gets to come here to enjoy the season-ending event," Rose added. "I haven't played with Gavin yet but we have mutual friends and he's in the same management stable as me.
"I know he hits the ball a long way and I'll definitely keep a close eye on him. The course is going to suit him this week and it'll be good to get to know him better this week. A lot of players are coming through the Asian Tour and improving on their world rankings and getting into major championships. There are a lot of future stars from the Asian Tour."
Rose was due to have his wife, Kate, on his bag at the Royal Jakarta Golf Club this week, but he has been forced to restore regular caddie Mark Fulcher due to unfortunate circumstances at home.
He added: "My wife was going to caddie for me this week. It is our wedding anniversary on the 15th of December, so I thought it might be a romantic thing to do. But unfortunately our dog died last week, which was very sad.
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"The children found it very sad, so Kate didn't want to leave the children. She told me last night that our little five-year-old daughter was very sad about it so she was glad she stayed at home. So she put her mother hat back on and I had to drag my caddie here."
