Justin Rose’s wife ended four-year rift with phone call that inspired Open and Ryder Cup heroics

Justin Rose recently came close to achieving his dream of becoming the first English winner of The Open Championship in over 30 years, delivering a strong performance at Royal Troon. A crucial phone call from his wife played a significant role in his impressive showings at The Open and the Ryder Cup.

Rose had parted ways with his long-time caddie, Mark “Fooch” Fulcher, in 2019, but they reunited last summer. This reunion proved beneficial, as Rose played a key role in Europe’s victory over the United States in Rome, reclaiming the iconic Ryder Cup trophy, and put up a commendable effort at Royal Troon, finishing just two shots behind Xander Schauffele, who secured the Claret Jug.

Despite facing challenging conditions on Scotland’s west coast throughout the tournament, Rose skillfully positioned himself as a contender during the first three rounds. Though he was ultimately bested by Schauffele, Rose tied for second place with Billy Horschel. He fought back tears as he left the 18th green, reflecting on how close he came to winning the title he desired most.

Rose, a former US Open and Olympic champion, is optimistic about future victories, attributing much of his resurgence to the reunion with Fulcher. However, this reconciliation was made possible by a phone call from Rose’s wife, Kate, to Fulcher’s partner, Adrienne. Fulcher acknowledged that their reunion would not have happened without their wives’ intervention.

Recalling the conversation, Fulcher mentioned Kate’s plea, “‘Does Fooch fancy coming back? The old boy’s a bit miserable.’” Similarly, Adrienne noted that Fulcher was also feeling down, prompting the decision to reunite. Fulcher praised Kate, saying, “Mrs. Rose gets what Mrs. Rose asks for, and she’s amazing. She’s always been a huge supporter of me. When we reunited at Wentworth, it felt like no time had passed.”

Aware of being in the twilight of his career, Rose is using his age as motivation. Fulcher noted that Rose is inspired to compete against younger talents, believing in a similar path to Steve Stricker, who found success later in his career. Fulcher remarked that Rose is stronger and more experienced than ever, maintaining his personality on the golf course and competing fiercely.

Rose’s focus is now more on major championships. Finishing second at The Open was significant, as it helps secure entry into all the majors next year. Fulcher is excited to continue this journey with Rose, embracing the challenge of competing at the highest level despite the influx of young talent in the sport.