Justin Rose wants to return to his winning ways at Abu Dhabi Golf Championship

Englishman has high hopes headed into season debut at Abu Dhabi after securing just two victories in 2014, writes John McAuley.

Justin Rose of England in action during the Pro Am prior to the start of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship at the Abu Dhabi Golf Cub on January 14, 2015 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Andrew RShow more

ABU DHABI // It was a Twitter exchange played out between four friends, with an apparent reach stretching to around 8.5 million followers.

Justin Rose and Kevin Pietersen set the ball rolling Monday, and by the end of the evening a potential match-up, swollen to include Ian Poulter and Piers Morgan, was in the offing. Suppose it is the circles you mix in.

Scheduled, hypothetically at least, for some time this summer, the famous fourball will face off at destination unknown for some cash and a significant slice of kudos. Despite being ranked the world’s sixth-best golfer, Rose may be wise to give it a swerve.

“The only bad thing about losing to those three is the bragging rights will come at you pretty hard,” Rose said yesterday, as he prepares to get his season under way at this week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. “They have all got some good banter.”

Best keep them quiet, then. Rose’s main goal for 2015 would go some way to helping, given that the Englishman has resolved simply to win more.

While 11 victories across the game’s principal tours is not to be sniffed at – a CV burnished by a World Golf Championship crown in 2012 and the 2013 US Open – Rose, rightfully, expects more from himself.

Last season brought a single win on either circuit, at the Quicken Loans National and the Scottish Open, but they were offset, in part, by a disappointing run in the majors. Understandably, Rose seeks improvement.

“It’s just subtle changes,” he said. “Without putting any pressure on my game, it’s just doing everything a little bit better. I don’t need to look for much in order for that to be the case.

“I have a lot of top-10s under my belt, so it’s basically finding that one shot a round that potentially converts those into wins.”

The last time Rose teed it up in Abu Dhabi, a solitary stroke was the difference. Two years ago, he missed a makeable putt on the 72nd hole to force a play-off with Jamie Donaldson, instead finishing runner-up alongside Thorbjorn Olesen.

It made for an ultimately upsetting debut for Rose, a feeling that extended to last season, when a shoulder injury forced his withdrawal before a ball was struck in earnest.

So, back for seconds at the third time of asking, a strong showing this week will certainly serve him well going into the rest of the season. Topping a field headlined by Rory McIlroy and Henrik Stenson would be a nice way to kick-start the campaign.

“That’s huge,” he said. “Obviously you have the No 1 and No 2 players in the world playing here, and with that come a lot of world ranking points, which is always a consideration. I’m excited to be back.”

He envisages an exciting year ahead. There may be no repeat of Europe’s most recent Ryder Cup success, of which Rose played a large part, but with the biennial clash with the United States on hold until late next year, the majors represent enough to keep him occupied.

“For sure you target them,” Rose said. “Major championships really are what is going to change things going forward more and more.

“But I’d like to become more of a prolific winner, winning multiple times in a season. That would obviously again be a step up the ladder.”

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