Rose feels his time for the Masters has come

Ayear after losing a play-off to Sergio Garcia at the Masters, Justin Rose declared himself ready to finally to claim the coveted green jacket as he prepared for a final tune-up at the Houston Open.

The Englishman is one of several big guns using this week’s PGA Tour tournament to prepare for Augusta, joining the likes of Jordan Spieth, Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler in the field at the Golf Club of Houston.

Rose embraced his status as one of the favourites for the first major of the year, making no effort to downplay his chances.

“Game-wise I’m where I want to be,” he told reporters in Texas on Wednesday.

“I guess it’s getting comfortable with the feeling of knowing that I’m going in there [to the Masters] as one of the favourites and it’s my time really to do it.

“Last year I enjoyed the [Houston] tournament and it obviously turned into a good run into Augusta for me.

“This is not about next week, but clearly when you’re playing so close to a major that is always in the back of your mind.”

Rose has been one of the hottest player in the world for the last few months, winning three times late last year, including a World Golf Championships (WGC) event in Shanghai.

The world No. 5 has also has contended in his two most recent starts on the PGA Tour in Florida, and skipped last week’s WGC Match Play in Austin to play instead in Houston.

“I’ve had a very simple train of thought the last few months,” he said. “I’m not coming in here trying to find my game or look for anything new.”