The 21-year-old has joined fellow Britons Colin Montgomerie, Nick Faldo and Paul Lawrie as the major British contenders for the title at the Belfry from 9 to 12 May.

Faldo has showed a resurgence in form this season, impressing for much of The Players Championship in Sawgrass last week before carding a dire final round eight-over-par 80.

Rose, meanwhile, will also be looking to continue his strong start to the season as another of the Belfry contenders.

The Johannesburg-born, Hampshire-based player won his first event as a professional on the European Tour earlier this year in South Africa's Dunhill Championship.

He also recorded a victory on South Africa's Sunshine Tour, winning the Nashaua Maters.

And on Tuesday, he said: "My first win was a huge goal for me this year and having it happen so soon exceeded my expectations.

"I said I wanted to win something by the time the Benson & Hedges arrived because that is a period with a lot of tournaments and a lot of ranking points.

"Holding the silverware in my hands was something I hadn't felt for four years since my amateur days and it was a great feeling having something to show for all the weeks of hard work."

Since then Rose's progress has been hampered by a back complaint which saw him withdraw from the Qatar Masters.