Rose is sad to bid farewell to class of the Masters

JUSTIN ROSE didn’t mince his words when asked for his thoughts on the probable demise of the British Masters following the final round at Walton Heath today.

Embracing his duties as tournament host with pride, he thought carefully about what he wanted to say before eloquently speaking for everyone who has attended this great event over the past three days.

‘Dare I say it, there are so many events on the European Tour that shouldn’t be there, and these events with history are the ones that should be there,’ he said.

‘I wonder if we should be focusing on condensing things slightly, and stressing quality over quantity.

‘It’s such a shame when we lose events like this one, and we’ve seen it far too often with the loss of other traditional events like the European Open.

‘These are the ones where the fans really come out in force in the UK and support them and they create the type of atmosphere which makes it such a pleasure for the players to compete.’

Sportsmail’s revelation yesterday that the event is facing the axe, with no place currently on the schedule for next year as the European Tour have been unable to find a title sponsor, was the talk of the club yesterday.

The British Masters was first played in 1946 and has been won by virtually everyone who is anyone in European golf over the years, including Tony Jacklin, Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, Ian Woosnam and Colin Montgomerie, as well as the two best golfers to come out of Australia — Peter Thomson and Greg Norman. Greystones’ very own Paul Dunne won it last year.

The event didn’t take place between 2009 and 2014, before being brought back with four of England’s finest — Ian Poulter, Luke Donald, Lee Westwood and Rose — hosting it in turn.

The situation next year is complicated because of the switch in the global golf calendar. The BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth is moving from May to September and European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley wanted the British Masters to slot in the week before.

But that is the week of the Solheim Cup, and broadcaster Sky and Visit Scotland made it clear they didn’t want another prominent golf tournament in the UK at the same time.

Now, with no title sponsor on board who could put an irresistible case for a different date, it looks as if there won’t be a British Masters at all. Ironically, the news comes at a time when the game in England has never been stronger. The final threeball on the course yesterday were all from the host nation, and all in their twenties — Eddie Pepperell from Oxford, Matt Wallace from London and Jordan Smith from Bath.

All told, there are currently eight Englishmen in the top dozen and ties — and that number doesn’t include Rose.

The leading trio were at their best at the downwind par five 11th, where all three walked off the green with an eagle three.

When was the last time that ever happened? It was Eddie the eagle who fared best elsewhere. Another blustery day on this sublime course played into Pepperell’s hands, with his low ball flight.

He finished with a 71 to maintain the same three-stroke lead with which he began, over a chasing quartet that includes Smith, with Wallace five adrift.

Fleetwood bounced back from his 77 on Friday with a 70 to be tied 12th, while Rose is a further shot back following a 69. Eighteen months ago, Pepperell was ranked 513th in the world. If the 27-year-old holds on today, he will be on the fringes of the top 30 and guaranteed a debut next year at the one Masters tournament with more prestige that this one — the one at Augusta. So, to the British Masters farewell. As if the fans are not depressed enough, the weather forecast today is truly miserable. Clearly, the gods are not happy at what’s happening, either. Of the Irish in action, Dunne is the highest placed, tied for 34th spot following a two over round which leaves him one over for the week. Padraig Harrington, meanwhile, carded one under for a share of 42nd place on a three-roudn total of two over alongside Shane Lowry who had a level par round.

LEADER: England’s Eddie Pepperill has a three-shot advantage