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21 May, 2008

Rose hails rise of European tour

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Justin Rose sees exciting times ahead for European golf - and he wants to play a bigger part in it.

After a year in which he won the Order of Merit despite appearing only six times in Europe, Rose is back on this side of the Atlantic for the first time this season at Wentworth on Thursday.

Speaking at the BMW PGA Championship, the event in which he lost a play-off to Dane Anders Hansen last May, the 27-year-old said: "The European Tour has done a fantastic job of enticing the players."

He added: "They are giving them the opportunity to play more and giving some very attractive rewards for doing so."

Next season sees the launch of a new-look Order of Merit culminating in November with the Dubai World Championship. Prize money totalling £5million and the same amount in a bonus pool makes it the world's richest tournament.

"With the 'Race to Dubai' and everything that's going on with that it's an exciting time for European golf, and it's something that I want to be a part of," added Rose.

"I probably won't add in more golf necessarily, but especially for next year I'll focus more on the European side. I think it makes perfect sense to."

The world number 11 has not had the year he was hoping for yet, losing the lead in The Masters and still searching for a first top-10 finish anywhere.

There was also his withdrawal from one recent US Tour event after a recurrence of back trouble, but on that he commented: "It wasn't a big drama, just a little blip and probably something every other golfer faces and never talks about.

"I really do feel like my body is in good shape right now. It's been reported here and there that I'm struggling, but the fact is that the last couple of weeks I just didn't play particularly good golf."