American fear of Justin Rose, team Europe’s top Ryder Cup weapon

Justin Rose should scare the hell out of the American side in the 2014 Ryder Cup. He might be Europe’s most consistent and most versatile weapon and should be a favorite to win every match he plays.

Ian Poulter is hailed as the European Ryder Cup hero for his work over the last decade, but fellow Englishman Rose is starting to craft his own Ryder Cup legend. He was an enormous key to the 2012 comeback, setting the early tone with an amazing Sunday singles comeback and upset of Phil Mickelson.

It seems like Rose has been beating up on the USA team for years now, but this is actually just his third Ryder Cup. He was, of course, the next big thing way back in 1998 when he contended as an amateur at the Open Championship and whipped the native Brits into a frenzy. Still a teenager, he turned pro right after that T4 finish and proceeded to miss the cut in his first 21 events.

Rose fell off the map and out of the game setting aside the expectations and hype. More than a decade later, some of that promise was fulfilled as he became a bona fide top 5 player in the world. The U.S. Open is his signature career win, but Rose was already one of the best in the game and a force at all the biggest events on the toughest courses. He’s got six wins on the PGA Tour since 2010, and at one point this summer, was considered the hottest player in the world. So there’s a track record now, and he’s gunning to add to it at the Ryder Cup.

In 2012, Rose’s 1-up victory over Phil near the top of singles continued to momentum from Poulter’s birdie streak that kept hope alive the night before. It was the first crucial turning point that made the comeback seem like a reality. His bombed putt at the 17th green left Mickelson incredulously giving his opponent a thumbs up for his unrelenting work to push the match to the limit. It also led to that amazing Rose reaction as he chased his ball across the green. Nobody celebrates a made putt more smugly and enjoyably than Justin Rose.

Prior to that singles drama, Rose put two more points up on the European board in a partnership with Poulter. The two are friendly on the PGA Tour and run around together outside of the Ryder Cup. They would be a natural pairing again, and both played a practice round together on Tuesday, which can be an indicator that they’ll be side-by-side when it counts on Friday. As the clip above demonstrates, Rose can also get as emotional and intense as the crazy-eyed Poulter.

They’re a pretty indomitable pairing, and Rose has never lost a match in Foursomes, the alternate-shot format that will lead it off on day one. A Rose-Poulter duo to start the weekend would set the tone of the entire first day. If they were picked off by the USA, however, it would be a huge mental boost for Tom Watson’s group -- one of those wins they say is worth more than a point.

We’ll see if McGinley opts to put the English duo together. Rose is pretty flexible and has played with Martin Kaymer as well. He’s always going to put it in the fairway and hit his irons well, so pairing him with a clutch putter is usually the best way to go in the two-man games. Despite his emotional outbursts above, he’s easy to get along with and easy to play with by all accounts so he, McIlroy, and Poulter are probably McGinley’s best weapons on paper. The way he’s played all summer, and the fact that most are targeting Rory or Poulter and leaving Rose under the radar, is dangerous for the USA.

Age: 34
World ranking: 6
Ryder Cup record (Win-Loss-Halve): 6-3-0
Past Ryder Cup appearance: 2008, 2012
How he qualified: Automatic spot -- 2nd on World Points List