A milestone on journey to the summit
Justin Rose reveals his victory in 1997 played a crucial role in his development
Ibirdied the last two holes to win the 1997 Telegraph Junior Championship and I remember it being one heck of a duel with a fellow Englishman, David Griffiths. But what has really stuck in my mind was the 20-footer I made just to get to those finals in Sea Island.
I was on the 18th green at my home course, North Hants Golf Club in Hampshire and had that birdie putt for a 65. I was only 16 but, in my mind, there was no other option – I had to make it. I did and I soon discovered that if I missed I would not have been travelling to Georgia. That’s how tough a tournament it was then. And it still is.
That is why I am so thrilled to be supporting the championship by putting my name to it and, yes, to be sponsoring it as well. This is an event that provided me with a great stepping stone to golf ’s next level.
There was great banter between the lads that week. We felt like pros, with the TV cameras there. It was a new resort, so plush, not like anything we were used to.
It was not only a taste of what could happen if you worked hard at it, but also the nerves you had to experience and get through.
It was a big deal and it was a huge learning experience for me to feel that pressure and survive it down the stretch. Yes, I had played Walker Cup and was a very seasoned amateur for my age, but this put me out of my comfort zone.
It was great for my confidence and my profile. Wherever I played after that week, I always seemed to go down in the paper as “Justin Rose, the Telegraph Junior Champion”.
I truly believe it is all about the journey and that was an important milestone for me. It’s so cool that skinny kid has grown up to be involved in the “Justin Rose Telegraph Junior Championship”. It makes me very proud.