Rose ends four-year drought with win

14 April 2012

Justin Rose's determination to force his way back into the game's elite was illustrated when he sought a sponsor's invitation to play in the Australian Masters.

How easy it would have been for the Englishman to put his feet up at his palatial Orlando home and reflect on a strong finish to the American season during which he had pocketed close to £1m.

Now ambition has received its due reward for, on a blustery Melbourne afternoon, 26-year-old Rose recovered from a mid-final round calamity yesterday to register his first title for four years.

Consign all those 'wilting Rose' headlines to the back burner — and get out the 'blooming' ones again. As our cricketers have rapidly discovered, holding off a pack of hungry Aussies in their own backyard to win is some task.

But Rose registered two late birdies to recover from a triple-bogey eight and see off a couple of seasoned campaigners in Richard Green and Greg Chalmers, plus a real talent in Aaron Baddeley.

In so doing, he can forget all about the sour taste that followed a couple of spurned chances for a maiden victory on the U.S. Tour and reflect that his career is back on track.

Indeed, Rose has not looked back since taking the difficult decision to split from long-time coach David Leadbetter in July. Back then he was going nowhere and in grave danger of losing his privileges to play in America.

In came Nick Bradley as his new guru and the change has been profound. Three top-four finishes in his last seven events in the States and now this significant success. "It's been a long rollercoaster ride and I can't believe it has been four years since my last success," said Rose. "This win is going to do wonders for my confidence."

Rose won four tournaments in 2002, but that all stopped the day his father Ken died. It was a devastating loss to a young man who had relied heavily on his father's sage advice.

Now life off the course has found an even keel again, with forthcoming nuptials to girlfriend Kate Phillips. The next step for Rose is to climb back into the world's top 50 — he is 51st. If he can achieve that before year's end he will gain automatic entry to the leading events again, including next April's Masters.

There was a poignant irony in Rose's success coming during the week that fellow Englishman Oliver Fisher turned pro. Not since Rose himself joined the paid ranks in 1998 on the back of a fourth-placed finish as an amateur at The Open has so much excitement been caused by a young talent.

If Fisher wants advice on the pluses and pitfalls of being hailed the next big thing at 18, Rose ought to be his first port of call. Eight years ago, Rose must have dreamed he would have been wearing the Green Jacket by now.

But the gold one that came with winning the Aussie version of the Masters yesterday must have been almost as sweet, taking everything into account. Once more we can reflect on the fact that never was a golfer more appropriately named. Justin rose — again.

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