Britain's Justin Rose is determined to make it a 2007 season to
remember after claiming he fell "one or two shots" short
this year.
The European Tour's 2007 season continues on Thursday at Huntingdale
- in Australia - at an event co-sanctioned by the Australasian Tour.
Rose, 26, spent most of the 2006 campaign competing in the United
States and finished 47th on the PGA Tour money list with almost
£900,000 in earnings.
He has still yet to win in the US, however he threatened to make
that breakthrough on several occasions and claimed a share of second
place at the Valero Texas Open in September.
"I've had chances for sure but I'm certainly not frustrated,"
said Rose ahead of this week's MasterCard Masters.
"I don't think it is an easy transition to make. Certainly
a lot of guys have struggled to make that transition going from
Europe to America. I feel I've made that transition relatively smoothly.
"I've consistently improved on the money list every year and
this year I was one or two shots away in several tournaments from
making it a really great season.
"That means I'm doing a lot of things really well."
The Johannesburg-born player will be among the star attractions
this week in Australia, a situation to which he has been unaccustomed
in America.
He remains best known for his performance as a 17-year-old amateur
at the 1998 Open Championship, when he finished fourth, but has
four career titles to his name - two in Europe, one in South Africa
and another in Japan, all of which came in 2002.
He anticipates strong rivalry from Australasian players this weekend
but enjoys playing Down Under.
"I like the way the courses play firm and fast," he said.
"So few times we get the opportunity to get to play courses
like that."
Robert Allenby is the defending champion, but England's Ryder Cup
star Paul Casey starts as a likely favourite.
Unlike Rose, Casey will have few regrets to dwell on in the 2006
season, having won the World Match Play Championship, China Open
and Johnnie Walker Championship.
He lost out to Padraig Harrington in the race to top the European
Tour Order of Merit, but the 29-year-old finished fifth last year
at Huntingdale and is in a confident mood.
"I love playing down here," he said. "Shot-making
is at a premium, golf-ball control is a must and you have to use
your imagination.
"It's a great example that you don't have to grow rough and
trick golf courses up with unnatural hazards to make them tough.
This is pure golf, golf as it should be played, and I love playing
these golf courses."
del.icio.us
digg
reddit
stumbleupon
facebook
google
What are these 
Email This Page