GOLF: Dad would be glad that I'm working with David

JUSTIN ROSE knows he will never find a more dominant or influential figure in his life than his father Ken, who died of leukaemia last year.

Yet when he strides on to the practice ground at Royal St George's tomorrow to finalise his preparations for The Open, he believes the next best thing will be waiting for him.

Over the last nine months David Leadbetter, the guru behind Nick Faldo's Open and US Masters triumphs, has become Rose's new father- figure.

Rose said: "I feel I can pick up the phone and talk to him about things other than just my golf swing any time I feel like it."

It was in 1998, shortly after the wide-eyed 17-year-old amateur from Hampshire had finished fourth in The Open at Royal Birkdale behind Mark O'Meara, that Leadbetter and Rose first began working together.

Although the youngster had turned professional the day after leaving Birkdale, a dire run of missed cuts soon convinced Ken Rose - who had moulded Justin's swing from his first plastic club as a toddler - that his son needed help from one of the game's most respected tutors.

Four years down the line, with Rose still only 22 but with four tournament victories worldwide to his name, the relationship has become a close bond. Rose added: "I get on well with David and he's an incredible help. My dad really liked David and they got on well.

"Dad would be comfortable with the relationship I now have with David - he had a lot of respect for him."

Leadbetter's golfing influence has seen Rose bloom into a top 50 world ranking, with his 23rd birthday still to be celebrated at the end of the month.

Furthermore, Faldo has offered a helping hand as Rose attempts at Sandwich to build on his brilliant fifth-place finish in last month's US Open.

Rose will play a practice round with Faldo at Royal St George's on Tuesday - and the pair could be spotted deep in conversation last Tuesday between entertaining clients of their sponsor Lloyds TSB at a golf clinic in the city.

Rose said: "I got chatting to Nick and picked his brains. We talked mainly about the way he went about handling pressure and I found it fascinating.

"There's a lot I can learn from a great champion. Look at what he has achieved - he has won The Open and the Masters, two tournaments I'd dearly love to win." Winning tournaments of any stature has escaped Rose since he won the British Masters by one stroke from his close friend Ian Poulter at Woburn 13 months ago.

However, six top 10 finishes from 12 starts this year have already seen Rose bank close to pounds 450,000 and climb to ninth in the European money list.

Such is his growth in stature that his failure to make the cut at last week's European Open in Ireland came as a shock to his followers.

By maturing from the adventurous youth of Birkdale into a model of high-class consistency, Rose has achieved one of his main goals this year. Now he has set his sights on a victory either in a Major or one of the new World Championship events which would lead to a Ryder Cup debut next year.

Failing to find weekend employment at the K Club did not, however, surprise Rose. "It was the course - I haven't done well there in the past and I wasn't feeling comfortable with my swing. I was not at the stage where I knew I was going to find the fairways as against trying to find them.

"It was also a bit like that at the US Open, but that was a big boost for my confidence. The US Open courses have the most demanding set-up of the Majors and I finished fifth when I didn't feel comfortable with my game.

"But consistency is what I've been trying to achieve this year - more consistency rather than the spectacular of last year, when I was still having weekends off as well.

"I suppose six top 10s is consistency, but I wouldn't mind another piece of silverware as well."

At last year's Open Rose was given the stiffest test of his career when he was put in a prime TV pairing with Tiger Woods for the first two days.

Rose emerged from that test of his character with flying colours, scoring 68 to Woods's 70 on the first day. Though he slipped to a 75 on day two, Rose still finished one shot ahead of the world No.1 in joint 22nd.

He recalled: "I played with Tiger for the first two days, ripped my first tee shot and was four under through nine holes. I was leading the tournament with Shigeki Maruyama, who was our playing partner.

"The second day when I shot 75 was frustrating after playing well on the first day. Maybe I got a little bit complacent after the first day was such a challenge and I had put everything into it.

"I shot 68 on the third day to get into contention and went out in the penultimate group in the final round.

"Taking Birkdale into account as well, I've now been right in there at the thick end of things in two Opens and I can take confidence from that.

"In an ideal world, you try to ignore Tiger and say he's just another player, but you are always aware when he is in a tournament.

"But playing with him is not a problem. He's a cool guy to play with, he doesn't try to intimidate you and there's really no reason to let him get to you."

Rose headed for St George's two weeks ago for a practice round and feels he has nothing to fear from the Kent course.

"I played the British Amateur there in 1997 and got through a few rounds to the last 16, but it was brutal weatherwise and one hell of a test.

"But when I went down there recently the course was in great condition. It's set up fairly and although there's really thick rough, there is still enough room on the fairways."

Rose refuses to be drawn on his Open chances but feels sure when he meets up again with Leadbetter any problems he might have suffered with his swing in Ireland or at the US Open will soon be behind him.

He says: "It doesn't take long to get back. I'll be with David early in the week in Sandwich and get rocking again."

Copyright 2003 MGN LTD
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.