Golf title hopeful Rose doesn’t want to get caught in trap

VIRGINIA WATER, England, May 20 (Reuters) – Wentworth is littered with sand traps and world number six Justin Rose says he must avoid them at all costs if he is to achieve a bucket list goal of winning the BMW PGA Championship this week. The European Tour’s flagship event is a hometown event for the 34-year-old Londoner and, outside of golf’s four majors, it is the title he most desires. “Outside of the majors, I can’t think of a tournament I would love to win more than this,” Rose told a news conference on Wednesday. “I’ve been coming here since I was eight years old and watching the great players and I’m inspired to go back to my course and practice. Tomorrow there will be a lot of familiar faces in the crowd for me and that always makes it very special.” » When the action begins in Thursday’s first round, Rose will do his best to navigate the bunkers, even if that means aiming for the rough at times. “There are bunkers everywhere and strategy off the tee is very important,” the 2013 US Open champion said. “You have to hit the ball well this week. “You can’t play this course from the bunkers, so you have to be conservative in some areas and in other areas, fly over a bunker and accept that you’re in the rough.” If Rose needed any extra motivation to do well, it came at Tuesday’s Players’ Awards dinner, as British Open and US PGA Championship winner Rory McIlroy and US Open champion Martin Kaymer mingled again with their triumphant European Ryder Cup teammates. “It was phenomenal,” the Florida-based Englishman said. “A really inspiring night to see what has been achieved by guys who play on the European Tour and a very motivating night. “The theme was ‘the happiest days of our lives’ and there were so many great memories that the Ryder Cup has created and to have the opportunity to get most of the team together and reminisce. “It was a really cool moment,” Rose added. (Editing by Ken Ferris)