Rose confirms British Masters defence

England's Justin Rose will return to the scene of his first professional win on home soil to defend the British Masters at the Forest of Arden from 5-8 June.

The 22-year-old resisted the temptation to take a week off to prepare for the US Open in Illinois a week later.

"It means a lot to me to be defending my first title on home turf," Rose told BBC Sport Online.

"It's exciting to be playing a different course (last year's event was at Woburn). It should be a great event."

Rose, who won three more times around the world in 2002, will be joined by Ryder Cup stars Darren Clarke and Thomas Bjorn in hunting the £250,000 winner's cheque.

Rose tees it up at the US PGA Tour's Bellsouth Classic on Thursday, before making his Masters debut a week later.

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