Justin Rose makes eyebrow-raising claim after signing up to 'LIV Golf pathway' event

Justin Rose has teased golf fans on X / Twitter after confirming his participation in the LINK Hong Kong Open this November, a tournament on the Asian Tour's International Series that is billed as 'the pathway to the LIV Golf League'. 

Rose, 44, earlier today committed to the Asian Tour event at Hong Kong Golf Club from 21-24 November.

UPDATE: 

• Justin Rose made to sweat over DP World Tour release to play in Hong Kong Open

It is a tournament and venue close to the Englishman's heart having won there back in 2015 when it was co-sanctioned on the European Tour, now the DP World Tour.

But the former World No.1 has raised eyebrows after his tongue-in-cheek response to Golf Digest Middle East's tweet that confirmed his participation in the Hong Kong Open. 

Scroll below Rose's comment...

'Justin Rose to play on International Series, the pathway to the LIV Golf League', tweeted Golf Digest ME, with a link to their article. 

Rose replied: 'Let’s hope I play well then!!'

At least to our knowledge, Rose is only joking and has absolutely no interest in joining the Saudi-bankrolled LIV Golf League in 2025.

But try telling that to some of Rose's fans, who are seemingly a little worried the 11-time PGA Tour winner and 2013 US Open champion could be contemplating a move to LIV Golf in 2025 after seeing his latest tweet. 

'Something you want to tell us Rosey?' quizzed one of his fans. 

Another commented: 'Rose you are one of the legends of the game, please don’t go to LIV you can win proper major events again.'

Other Rose fans instantly saw the funny side... 

Rose is teeing it up in the Hong Kong Open because it's a tournament close to his heart.

However, one rather interesting observation to draw from Rose’s inclusion in this International Series event, which is of course backed by LIV Golf, is that DP World Tour members were previously sanctioned for playing in these tournaments when they were opposite a DP World Tour event. 

That is the exact case here with the BMW Australian PGA, a co-sanctioned event with the DP World Tour, taking place the same week.

The former Olympic gold medallist must have therefore been granted a release to play in Hong Kong.

Rose told Golf Digest Middle East of his participation: 

"Hong Kong holds a special place in my heart, as does the Hong Kong Open, as when I won at Fanling I was playing some of the best golf of my life.

"I’ve had some great form this year and can’t wait to return.

"I cannot believe that seven years has slipped by since I was last in Hong Kong. You know, I tell people whenever I’m asked that it’s one of my favourite cities in the world; Hong Kong is right up there at the top of the list. I have great memories of the tournament and the golf course especially.

"The Hong Kong Golf Club is a true classic in the sense that it’s got an old school feel about it. It tests everybody’s game, whether you’re a long hitter or a short hitter."

Rose will be joined in the Hong Kong Open by another star name in International Presidents Cup player Tom Kim.

The top three players on the International Series come the end of the season will advance to the LIV Golf League next season. 

There are eight tournaments on the International Series this season. 

John Catlin, who stood in for Jon Rahm at last week's LIV Team Championship in Dallas, is the current leader in the race.

Rose competed on home soil at the BMW PGA on the DP World Tour last week.

He finished T48.

The Englishman has made it no secret he still very much intends to be part of Luke Donald's European Ryder Cup team at Bethpage Black in New York next September. 

"I think it's important to keep my goals in a calendar year because you can start thinking about next year, but there's obviously a lot -- Ryder Cup points have now started," Rose told GolfMagic and other reporters on site at Wentworth last week.

"That's obviously a big focus going forward for me, to be a part of that team again. They don't get any easier to make, obviously."

Rose is currently ranked 36th in the world. 

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