Justin Rose To Showcase ‘Swagger’ And A Little Justin Timberlake At PGA Championship: “His style might be loud, but it’s always classy”

The English golfer Justin Rose enters this week’s PGA Championship at TPC Harding Park, in San Francisco ranked as the world’s No. 1g player in the world, after placing 3rd at the Charles Schwab Challenge, 14th at RBC Heritage, and missing the cut three times.

We spoke more about golf majors, his gold medal Olympic performance at Rio 2016, and other topics last Wednesday.

AF: We see guys like Tiger and Brooks Koepka wearing their own brands, and players like Rickie Fowler who bring swagger to golf. But you’ve got your own ‘swagger’ too.

Rose: Swagger is an interesting word. I’d say one of my coolest friends is Justin Timberlake, and he texted me once after I played well and he said, “Swagger on 100!” And I said, OK, cool—whatever that means, I’m in. But for me I guess it means being confident in your own skin.

I’ve always talked about “look good, feel good, play good”, and I think that comes being comfortable. In golf, there’s days when its business-like and days when you want to be a little more flamboyant. I think that’s what I enjoy most about being with Bonobos, is that it gives me the options to tell my story and show a little bit more of my personality. I definitely like the classic vibe, the detail and the look.

AF: Speaking of Justin Timberlake, do you get to play golf with him? What’s he like on the course?

Rose: I’ve really got to know him as a person while on the course. He’s an avid golfer and loves to play. That’s another thing about golf, is the friendships I’ve built and how the game has given me the occasion to meet people I otherwise wouldn’t have met. I think, for other athletes and musicians like Justin, golf is a wonderful outlet.

I’ve always see Justin being relaxed on the golf course, and that’s when you get to know the real person. I’ve enjoyed getting to know the real guy behind the swagger and the album covers. But yeah, he’s a perfectionist in everything he does—in the way he dresses, and on the golf course as well. He’s basically what I call “buttoned-up perfection”. His style might be loud, but it’s always classy.

Forbes