Justin Rose’s wife Kate inspired Open heroics with phone call that ended long-time rift
Justin Rose narrowly missed clinching the coveted claret jug at The Open – but his wife Kate’s timely intervention played a pivotal role in his impressive performance. The former US Open winner was just two strokes shy of glory at Royal Troon, finishing behind Xander Schauffele and tied for the runner-up spot with Billy Horschel.
The 43-year-old, who has long yearned to win The Open, displayed remarkable resilience as he vied for the top spot. The turning point for Rose came courtesy of a key phone call from his wife, Kate, which reunited him with his ex-caddie Mark “Fooch” Fulcher.
The golfer had parted ways with his caddie in 2019, but a call from Kate to Fulcher’s wife Adrienne helped end the rift. Recalling Kate’s call to his wife, Fulcher said: “‘Does Fooch fancy coming back? The old boy’s a bit miserable.’ And I think my wife was saying, ‘My old boy’s a bit miserable, he’s drinking too much wine and sitting on the couch, so why not come back?’
“Mrs Rose gets what Mrs Rose asks for, and she’s amazing,” Fulcher continued. “She’s always been a huge backer of me. We got to Wentworth and got to the house and it didn’t feel like those years had gone past at all.” Here’s a look at the life of Kate Rose and the impact she’s clearly had on her husband’s career.
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Kate Rose, nee Phillips, born on July 30, 1980, hails from Chiswick and boasts a background as an international gymnast. She also holds a degree from the University of Sussex.
The retired sportswoman kickstarted her post-athlete life at IMG as an assistant, which is how she met the man who would become her husband. The duo’s love story began in 2000 and they six years later at the Manor House in Castle Combe, Chippenham.
The couple’s first child, Leo, was born in 2009, followed by the arrival of Lottie three years later. The Roses have made the plush Albany Resort in the Bahamas their home and keep a riverside flat in London. The family were previously based in Orlando, Florida.
In a show of unity and shared purpose, she and her husband established the Kate and Justin Rose Foundation in 2009. The charity aimed to help children in Orlando with nutrition and education. Their passion for golf also manifested in the inauguration of the Rose Ladies Series in 2020, underlined by donating £35k in sponsorship for the events.
Whether it is from the sidelines of prestigious golfing tournaments or enjoying family moments off the field, Rose’s support of her partner is unquestionable.
After winning the 2013 US Open, Justin showed a token of his appreciation by purchasing a horse for Kate. It was named Master Merion, as a tribute to the venue that saw Rose win the first major of his career.
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Justin and Kate Rose started the Rose Ladies Series in 2020 (Image: Luke Walker/Getty Images)
The golfer has lavished praise on Kate via his social media accounts and has previously dubbed her ‘The Boss’. After showing his guts at The Open, Rose opened up about his family life in recent years, as he admitted: “I would say life’s been harder for the last five, six years in terms of parenting and kids getting older.
“They’re less mobile. They can’t travel as much. There are more demands on us as a family. But they’re always proud of me. They’re very philosophical. They get it. They know it’s hard.
“You want them to see you as a winner. They know that. As I get older, it would be cool to share that with them.”
