Publications
Partners
Hong Kong - Former major winner Justin Rose said on Tuesday that rising star Matthew Fitzpatrick would be among the toughest contenders at the upcoming Hong Kong Open, but his own chances of winning were still "decent".
Fitzpatrick, a 21-year-old fellow Briton, won his first European Tour title at the British Masters this month and came second in the Omega European Masters in July behind Danny Willett.
Currently 12th in the "Race to Dubai", he is also ranked 61 in the world.
Fitzpatrick is "a great young English player who's been playing incredibly well right now", Rose said when asked who he would like to beat at the Hong Kong tournament this week.
"He is going to probably be tough to beat on this golf course. He's an especially great putter, and keeps the ball in play off the tee.
"But the tour is very strong.... so many players can come out and have a great week and win the tournament. So I'm not singling out anybody. That's really the great thing about golf is that the golf course is your ultimate competitor," Rose said.
Asked what his chances were of winning on Sunday, world number seven Rose described them as "decent".
The Hong Kong Open from October 22-25 is the final event in the European Tour before its lucrative "Final Four" playoff series of tournaments in the "Race to Dubai", for which only the top 60 on the money list will qualify.
