Ryder Cup legend Justin Rose made the most of a weather delay at the DP World India Championship, honing his short game by hitting golf balls inside his hotel room

While a weather delay forced numerous golfers off the Lodhi Course at Delhi Golf Club in India, Justin Rose took serious advantage of the downtime to work on his short game.

A heavy rainstorm interrupted play as the DP World Tour’s season edges closer to the playoffs, driving marquee players like Tommy Fleetwood and Race to Dubai contender Rory McIlroy off the course and leaving 12 players unable to tee off.

Rose made the most of his time, according to a video posted to social media, as the 13-time PGA Tour champion practiced his short game inside his hotel room while the rain fell by hitting golf balls onto a mattress from just a few feet away. His bright orange McLaren golf bag sat promptly in the back of the video.

“Hotel practice during the weather delay!!” Rose captioned the post.

Having visited India 22 years ago for the Skins Game, 46-year-old Justin Rose expressed excitement about returning to compete in a fresh environment.

“I think it's fantastic to sort of be playing golf in this region,” said Rose ahead of the tournament.

“It's a country that's sort of exploding in many, many ways, and I think that, yeah, there is a commitment to golf here for sure. The tour travels here a couple times. Got great sponsors, great backers.

“It's just a really important time for golf to be growing I guess all around the world. Like I said, for me here, what a field they've assembled.

"I think hopefully that creates the interest that will help golf grow in this area. I'm excited to be here for sure and it should be a great week."

Rose loved India so much that he was once planning his 40th birthday party there, but the event sadly fell through the cracks.

“So I have accumulated some Indian friends through the years,” said Rose. “Some friends in Orlando got to know them very well. They took great care of us. A chap that I play with in Singapore was an Indian guy and stayed in touch through the years.

“Like I said, I have a lot of Indian friends that have grown up here and now live outside of India but they're all really, really keen to help.

"That's what I've noticed, is that everyone is very proud of their country and anybody that has any sort of influence or contact or friend here, they really want to share it and they want to show you a good time. They want to show you the magic of India.”