Three young golfers from the North Hants Club in Hampshire are heading for the Masters this week - courtesy of best pal Justin Rose.

Brothers George and Richard Porter and Paul McDonnell couldn't believe their good fortune when Rose invited them out to the Augusta - all at his expense.

George explained: "When Justin popped home briefly last month, we met for a drink and he handed over three tickets for the Masters.

"He's also invited us to stay with him in a house he has rented near the course with his mum, his sister and girlfriend. It's going to be a fantastic experience.

"Justin said that playing the Masters at Augusta was so special to him that he wanted his friends out there to share the experience. It's a terrific gesture and typical of the man."

Rose may have gone way up in the world but he hasn't forgotten the kid who played golf with him when they were just ten-year-olds at Tylney Park.

George recalled: "Justin was playing off 13 handicap even then. Apart from having a special talent for the game, he was so cool and calm under pressure and it showed when he played people a lot older than him."

Both George and brother Richard went on to play for the Hampshire junior side and George is now assistant professional at North Hants where his father, Steve, a top county player himself in his younger days, runs the golf shop.

Richard plays off three, Paul McDonnell off two.

Whenever Rose has some spare time, which is pretty rare nowadays, they play together at North Hants.

George is convinced they will be following their old friend for the duration of this week's Masters.

"I know he'll feel he could have done better in last week's Players Championship. He got to six under but couldn't finish the job and that will make him more determined this week," said George.

"Like all great players he has the ability to bounce straight back and the fact that he made the cut in each of the three American events he played leading up to the Masters suggests he's not too far away. I fancy him for a top 20 finish in Augusta."

Rose gave last week's BellSouth Classic a miss to start preparing early for the Masters. He used the time to get in some serious practice at the famous course and admitted: "Although I have been playing quite well in the States, I've not been getting the results. Maybe I'm saving it for the Masters."

His last round in the Players Championship was typical of how it's been going for Rose. He said: "I got to six under then gave them all back. I took 32 putts for my final round and that says it all. I've got to start finishing the job better."

Rose gave two shots away when he found the water at the notorious 17th at Sawgrass, but he had a much worse experience at the sixth in the Bay Hill Classic the week before. He revealed: "It's a par five dogleg going round water and I put three balls in there before finishing up with a ten."

And here's me thinking that only I took tens!