Olympic champion Justin Rose will make his first appearance on British soil since claiming an historic gold medal in Rio when he joins tournament host Luke Donald in the British Masters supported by Sky Sports at The Grove, from October 13-16.
Rose helped ensure golf made a memorable return to the Olympics after a 112-year absence when he held off a determined challenge from Open champion Henrik Stenson,.
The 36 year old will join Stenson in the European team for the Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National next month, before making an emotional homecoming appearance at The Grove, in Hertfordshire, where he will attempt to capture his second British Masters title following his victory at Woburn in 2002, when he triumphed in a memorable battle with Ian Poulter.
With all 20,000 free tickets for the opening round of the British Masters already snapped up as part Sky Sports’ Thursday promotion, Rose will be assured of a hero’s reception at The Grove.
Rose helped golf reach a new global audience at the Olympics, and he is now looking forward to doing the same at the British Masters, with the tournament aiming to help boost golf participation in Britain by engaging with new and existing audiences through innovative coverage and initiatives.
“I think everyone could see what representing Great Britain in the Olympics meant to me, and it will be very special to come back home as an Olympic champion and play in front of the home fans at the British Masters,” said Rose. “We all hoped that golf’s inclusion in the Olympics would widen the appeal of the game and that is also the overall aim of the British Masters, so it will be great to be able to build on the momentum of Rio at The Grove.
“For me, personally, it will be another chance to play on home soil, after missing the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth earlier this year through injury, and having won the title 14 years ago, I would love to have another chance to win again it in October.”
More than 57,000 spectators attended last year’s British Masters at Woburn, where Englishman Matthew Fitzpatrick claimed his maiden European Tour title. This year’s venue, The Grove, previously hosted the WGC American Express Championship in 2006, which was won by Tiger Woods, with Poulter – last year’s British Masters tournament host – joint runner-up alongside Adam Scott, while Donald finished in a share of sixth place.
Tickets for the 2016 British Masters are now on general sale, with fans able to buy tickets for the final three rounds. They are available jointly via www.europeantourtickets.com and www.sky.com/tickets.