It arrived just too late to truly qualify as a Christmas present, but Justin Rose could not have cared less.

When the white envelope with the Georgia postmark came through his letterbox, the 22-year-old from Fleet in Hampshire knew he had achieved another lifelong ambition - a coveted invite to the US Masters.

A brilliant season in 2002 had already earned Rose his first appearance in a major Championship in America at the USPGA, while outscoring playing partner Tiger Woods in the first round of the Open at Muirfield revived memories of his heroics as a 17-year-old at Birkdale in 1998.

Finishing ninth on the Order of Merit ensured Rose would also make his US Open debut in 2003, but confirmation of his place in the elite field at Augusta was still a massive thrill for the youngster who has put the North Hants Club in the world golfing map.

"I heard the Masters invite came around Christmas and thought it would be a nice Christmas present but I kept waiting and waiting and nothing happened," said Rose, who was practising at his new home in his native South Africa when the letter arrived in January.

"It was a couple of weeks late but an incredible feeling. After playing in the Open and USPGA it felt like the hardest major to get into and to get the call up was incredible.

"A friend of mine phoned from my home in Fleet and said there was a letter from Augusta a week or so ago. I got him to read it out to me so that was very exciting. I remember watching the Masters with my dad from an early age. I would dream of playing there one day."

Playing in all four majors this year is conclusive proof that Rose has taken his game to another level with his top 50 world ranking guaranteeing entry into the lucrative world golf championship events.

The memories of his captivating display as a raw teenager at Birkdale, where he finished in a remarkable tie for fourth place, will follow Rose for the rest of his career.

But perhaps now he is finally banishing the more unpleasant recollection of the times when the game did not come easy, and thoughts of strolling down Magnolia Drive to take on the best in the world were distant dreams.

The 21 consecutive cuts missed after he turned professional might well have weakened the young man's resolve and destroyed his confidence.

But he got his head down and battled it and emerged mentally tougher because of it.

With the help of his father, Ken and later ex-Nick Faldo coach David Leadbetter, he began to iron out the small flaws in his swing and also learned the skills necessary to be a top touring professional.

Still only 21, Rose claimed his first European Tour win in January 2002, a few miles from where he was born in Johannesburg, capturing the Dunhill Championship title he had so narrowly missed out on 12 months before.

That was the first of four wins worldwide last year, a second win in South Africa following soon after and victories in Japan and England, in the British Masters at Woburn, confirming his status as one of the best young players in the world.

It was sadly marred when his dad lost a two-year battle with leukaemia and died last September. "He was my coach, my rock and my mate as well as my dad, and its left a big hole in my life," he reflected.

But Rose remains determined to enjoy a season which will see him contesting all four majors. And he intends competing at the sharp end of those events, not just making up the numbers.

"Looking back two years when I finished second to Adam Scott in the dunhill at Houghton, that was a turning point in my career," said Rose, who has prepared for his Masters debut by playing in three of the last four US Tour events including the Players Championship in which he was tied 36th.

"My first win gave me the confidence to go to the next level. There were things off the course - like losing my dad - which makes you realise that a missed cut here and there is pretty insignificant, but I am going to enjoy this year.

"I have a schedule which means I'm at the top end of world golf with all four majors and world the championship events, but my expectations are high and I think I can do really well.

"At the same time, though, it's a learning curve. Any time you go to a different level it poses different challenges and you've got to take those as they come. You continue to learn.

"I learnt last year that I can compete in America. My name was on the leaderboard in the first round of the USPGA and I hung in and finished 22nd, and then I was fifth in the NEC Invitational on a good, tight course where the PGA had been before."

Now all he needs is a better nickname.

"The American fans also seemed to know who I am," he smiled. "I had some people in the crowd every day shouting, 'Go JR.'"

But Hampshire's JR doesn't intend being the villain of the piece this week.