Olympic champion Rose set for British Masters homecoming

Rose helped ensure golf made a memorable return to the Olympic Games after a 112-year absence when he held off a determined challenge from Open Champion Henrik Stenson, of Sweden. The 36 year old finished two shots clear of his Ryder Cup partner Stenson to add Olympic gold to the US Open Championship he claimed at Merion three years ago.

He 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 Golf Club in 2002, when he triumphed in a memorable battle with another close friend, Ian Poulter.

Rose, who is an ambassador for England Golf, helped golf reach a new global audience at the Olympics, and he is now looking forward to teaming up with Donald, The European Tour and Sky Sports to do 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 such as live masterclasses.

“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 supported by Sky Sports at Woburn Golf Club, 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 Ian Poulter – last year’s British Masters tournament host – joint runner-up alongside Adam Scott, while Donald finished in a share of sixth place.

Golf construction experts MJ Abbott Limited carried out the original construction of the golf course at The Grove and have carried out a number of subsequent projects over the years, including a new practice tee and a training pitch for NFL and football, and were delighted to be contracted to renovate all 90 bunkers on the golf course and carry out drainage improvements on 13 holes in preparation for the British Masters.