Justin Rose’s professional career is in full bloom, but it began with an incredible low.
While co-hosting ‘Morning Drive’ on Monday, Rose was asked about the longest odyssey he had ever taken. Rose said, '[C]oming back from 21 straight missed cuts was an odyssey. That was a pretty long journey.’
Rose had just turned pro after finishing T-4 in the 1998 British Open. To begin his career, he failed to make a paycheck in his first 21 events. It was not until nearly a year later that Rose cashed for the first time on the European Tour, finishing T-74 at the Compaq European Grand Prix.
Now a winner at Doral, Muirfield Village and twice more on the PGA Tour, as well as the European Tour Order of Merit (2007), Rose realizes the most unexpected start to his pro career was better than such a slump now.
‘Thank goodness I was 18, because if it was right now, it would be hard to turn up for the 22nd week,’ he said.
