Justin Rose PGA Tour Success Validates LIV Golf Rejection

Justin Rose said recent form on the PGA Tour confirmed the choice to stay with the circuit, after a dominant victory at the Farmers Insurance Open produced a record score and underlined the ongoing impact

of Rose’s decision to reject a switch to LIV Golf.

The English golfer captured his 13th PGA Tour title at Torrey Pines, finishing 23 under par and winning by seven shots. Rose led from the opening round to the final hole, completing a wire-to-wire success and claiming a second career victory at the California course.

Rose’s winning total of 23 under broke the tournament scoring record. The previous best was 22 under, first set by George Burns in 1987 and later matched by Tiger Woods in 1999. The 45-year-old added this milestone during an era shaped by LIV Golf’s arrival.

LIV Golf launched in 2022 with backing from Saudi Arabia and attracted several leading names away from the PGA Tour. Rose chose to remain with established tours and has collected three PGA Tour titles since the breakaway series began, strengthening personal belief in that career path.

Those results followed strong performances in golf’s majors. Rose finished runner-up at the 2024 Open Championship and again at the 2025 Masters. These near misses, combined with the latest victory in California, reinforced Rose’s view that staying with the PGA Tour and European Tour matched long-term goals.

Rose explained the thinking behind that stance. "I feel like my career goals have only been attainable by staying on the European Tour and the PGA Tour because access to them is not possible the other way," said Rose. "I've been sniffing and knocking on the door for a couple of majors since those decisions have been made, and those moments did validate that decision. It's good to see people wanting to play where it motivates them to be their best. "

At Torrey Pines, Rose also set an age-related landmark. The victory made Rose, at 45, the oldest player to secure a wire-to-wire win on the PGA Tour since Rocco Mediate, who achieved the same feat in October 2010 at 47 years old.

Rose outlined how the level of competition on the PGA Tour continues to drive ambition. "I want to play in and among the best players in the world; that's what keeps me motivated, keeps me hungry, keeps me pushing," Rose continued. "It would have been easy to potentially do other things but none of that excited me and none of that gave me access to what I wanted to achieve. I always felt my childhood self wouldn't feel very good about making that decision and giving up on those dreams. "

This rose has no thorns! Justin Rose is the champion @FarmersInsOpen! pic.twitter.com/rFYpxJTiYkPGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 1, 2026

With a record score, a seven-shot margin and a historic wire-to-wire win at Torrey Pines, Rose strengthened a late-career profile that includes recent major contention, while maintaining a clear commitment to chasing personal goals on the PGA Tour and European Tour rather than joining LIV Golf.