Justin Rose on Star Encounter Before Ryder Cup: I Was Impressed.

Justin Rose's Meeting with Gianfranco Zola Before Ryder Cup

id='6379997013112' data-video-id='6379997013112' data-account='5067014667001' data-player='default' data-usage='cms:WordPress:6.5.6:2.8.6:javascript' data-embed='default' class='video-js' data-application-id='' controls style='width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; top: 0; bottom: 0; right: 0; left: 0;'>

According to The Sun: The Ryder Cup is a unique event that takes place every two years when elite golfers experience an atmosphere similar to that of football.

No wonder Justin Rose, a Chelsea fan, met Gianfranco Zola at Bethpage Black before the Ryder Cup started.

Zola is part of the extended European team for the whole week in Farmingdale

Justin Rose, celebrating his seventh Ryder Cup at the age of 45, admitted that he rarely feels starstruck.

He did not know that Zola would be an unofficial part of the European team and was impressed when he met the Italian at the hotel.

 

“He is undoubtedly a Chelsea legend, and I am certainly a Chelsea fan,” Rose noted. “I didn’t know he was coming this week. It was a big surprise as he was literally one of the first people I met.”

Zola guides the cart for the European team's vice-captain Francesco Molinari during the tournament

Rose also shared that he has become more passionate about football over the last decade, as his 16-year-old son is interested in the sport.

 

“He is a Chelsea legend, and I am a Chelsea fan. I didn’t know he was coming this week. It was a big surprise as I met him one of the first.”

Zola, who is also passionate about golf, hopes that his experience in football will help the Europeans cope with the tumultuous atmosphere on American courses.

Zola is an avid golfer who plays in single digits

 

“It’s one of the first things you need to learn when playing football because the environment is like that,” Zola said. “So you need to use that to your advantage, you need to be motivated by it.”

Rose and his team are already preparing for a serious test, as the last meeting at Medinah in 2012 left unforgettable impressions.

 

“We will be wearing the 2012 shirts, that deep purple color that I had the honor of wearing at Medinah. It was a great yet challenging Sunday.”

Ryder Cup 2025 - All the Details

The Ryder Cup Returns THIS WEEK as the European team hopes to defend their title on American soil.

Luke Donald’s team has traveled to New York ahead of the big kickoff on Friday.

Europe has dominated the prestigious competition in the 21st century, winning eight out of 11 meetings since 2002.

However, only two of those victories happened in the USA, while the US team won both competitions in 2021 and 2016.

The European team has only won one of the four Ryder Cups held in the USA - in 2012.

Here’s everything you need to know about Ryder Cup 2025...