KEN ROSE believes that winning could become a habit for high-flying son Justin.

Rose senior watched proudly at the family's home in Hook as Sky TV beamed pictures of Justin's first-ever victory on the European PGA Tour in his home-town Johannesburg last Sunday.

Ken's battling leukaemia and said: "This was the best possible tonic. What dad couldn't be elated after watching his son do something like that?

"The boy's mentally strong and when he gets the scent of victory, he's dangerous.

"Putting was never his strongest suit but I knew the moment he got that side of his game right, he would be a winner.

"He putted superbly to win the Dunhill Championship on Sunday. If he can stay in the top 20 putting stats, more wins will follow and they will be sooner rather than later."

Rose took some hard knocks when he struggled to make cuts in his first full season on the European Tour.

He just started to make the breakthrough in the autumn of 2000 when news that his dad had leukaemia stunned what is a tightly knit family.

Ken said: "People expected so much of him after his fourth place in the British Open in 1998 and, when it didn't happen for him, the pressure increased.

"But he never broke, he fought it, and now he has the mental toughness to meet whatever challenges he faces out on a golf course.

"Before he went out to South Africa, he flew to Florida and worked on some swing thoughts with his coach David Leadbetter. And I thought his play in Johannesburg last week was world class."

Ken has been a hard task master as a father and a coach, but Justin, ruthless as he may be on the golf course, is forever pleasant and polite and is a credit to his dad and his mum Annie.

Justin said: "To win in front of my brother and grandparents was just awesome but I just wish mum and dad had been there. That would have been the full set.

"My mum was in tears when I spoke to her on the phone, but this win is for my dad more than anyone. He's the guy to who I owe most."

When Justin, now 106th in the world rankings, tees off in today's Johnny Walker Classic in Perth, his father will be contemplating more treatment.

After a setback with his health late last year, Ken says he is back in remission.

"This next course of treatment should help me consolidate. Right now I feel fine, thank you."