Paul Martin in London Golf
`Justin Rose is Bloomen Brilliant,” read the hand-written (and misspelled) banner unveiled by 10 English schoolgirls on the sixth tee at the British Open last Sunday. It’s testimony to the way Britain has taken this 17-year-old golfing phenomenon to their hearts.
It wasn’t just the astounding closeness to glory achieved by a boy so young and so fresh-faced he doesn’t even shave every day, unparalleled at the Open this century.
It was also the exhilaratingly open and friendly nature he exhibited, during his final round of 69, as he waved to crowds and even shook the hand of a photographer.
By finishing just two shots behind the winner, and ending with an outrageous 45m chip-in, the Johannesburg-born youth has ensured not only a gallery of teenage groupies but the attentions of the entire media . and a myriad of greedy, cheque-wielding sponsors’ representatives, would-be agents and endorsement-seekers.
Cashing in on Rose began even before he had finished his round – a light aircraft buzzed the fairways with a banner stating: “Go Justin. Fly Majorca from Blackpool.”
The British press is having a field day calculating how much the kid will have earned before he ends his teenage years: 21,5-million is the reckoning of The Mirror, including 10-million for sponsoring clubs, 5-million for a shirt and clothes deal, and 3-million from major corporations to use his name.
It’s all hype, of course: so far the boy’s father Ken says no serious negotiations for these deals have even begun. But, rest assured sir, they will.
“I’ve no idea what it would be like to earn the millions that are being talked about,” said Rose after the Open, and added disarmingly: “I can only assume it’s nice.”
The British press likes a rags-to- riches tale, even if it needs some embellishment. Apparently the Roses could not afford a golf coach, so Ken, himself an eight-handicapper, honed his son’s swing. Annie Rose’s son by a first marriage, Brendan, is already a golfing pro in South Africa, a role model for young Justin.
During the Open the Roses stayed at a modest bed-and- breakfast and ate fast food rather than dining out anywhere posh. Mind you, teenagers prefer pizzas to nouvelle cuisine.
The only downside of the story has been the fate of the family dog, Marmeduke. He was put into kennels as the family hit the golf circuit, and is still languishing there.
Justin’s career as an amateur was paved with success: since arriving from South Africa at the age of five in the sleepy Hampshire village of Hook, the youngster has broken record after record.
He reportedly went round in 50 for nine holes – at the age of six, yes, six. He shot 70 gross for 18 holes, at the age of 10. At 12 he had a handicap of four. Last year he was the youngest player ever selected for the amateur Walker Cup between Britain and the United States.
True, he did get an early start. His mother Annie (49) recalled to the assembled press how Justin became “obsessed” with a set of plastic golf- clubs he acquired aged 11 months, and slept with them under his pillow.
At the Johannesburg Country Club, she recounted, when he was two, he clambered out of the car, saw a ball teed up on a fairway, rushed over and clobbered it with his plastic club – 36m down the fairway. The stuff of legends, indeed.
Disappointingly, the senior Roses are not keen, despite broad South African accents, to stress Justin’s origins, partly perhaps because being a British rose is a very “sellable” feature.
“He has no emotional links with South Africa,” Ken was quoted as saying. “He is 100% English.”
This week Justin has become a professional, pursued by the media and the contract men around a Dutch golf course to a frenzy almost on a par with the hullabaloo when Tiger Woods turned pro, at the comparatively venerable age of 20.
Is the switch too early? “You should turn pro when you’ve achieved everything you can as an amateur. Justin’s too young,” said England’s amateur captain Peter McEvoy.
That, so far, has been the only note of dissension. David Leadbetter, the South African-born guru of golfers from Nick Faldo to Nick Price, is tending to Rose’s game now. “He is a phenomenal talent,” is Leadbetter’s assessment. “Justin is a little like Ernie [Els] in his rhythm. There are no airs and graces about him. He has a young body with an old head.” Praise indeed.
Rose played his last round as an amateur last Sunday, and the expectations of him as a professional will be high. Among those who knew him best during his days as an amateur was the man who was his captain during his England career, McEvoy. “He’ll be the one. This is the coming of the golfing Messiah, the next Faldo,” McEvoy said.
Asked for a word to describe Rose, McEvoy came up with several. “He’s modest, quiet, thoughtful, confident and yet inexperienced in an unworldly sense.
“He could have been in the England senior team at the age of 14, and after his first senior international there was no doubt in my mind that he was our best player. He rose – sorry, but that’s the word – to the occasion.”
Just before the Open, Rose played a practice round with Price, Els, and Mark McNulty. “I didn’t see any flaws out there,” said Price. “He hits the ball with a maturity beyond his years.”
But Price did have a gentle word of warning about possible burn-out or let- down for the new hero. “Playing as a professional can add up to a lonely life.
“I hope he keeps his head squarely on his shoulders. He’s going to go through ups and downs. It’s not going to be a bed of roses.”
There’ll be plenty more puns like that – and plenty more scope for a Blooming Genius.