THE MASTERS
Venue: Augusta Dates: 10-13 April Coverage: Watch on BBC ONE, BBC TWO, BBCi and BBC Sport website (UK only); Listen on BBC Radio 5 Live; highlights on BBC iPlayer for seven days
 Cannot play media. Sorry, this media is not available in your territory. Rose says taking time off in the winter will stand him in good stead European number one Justin Rose believes his experience at the 2007 Masters will stand him in good stead this time around at Augusta. Rose, 27, was within one shot of the lead with two holes to play before an errant tee shot at the 17th forced him to settle for fifth. "This is the kind of golf course that you learn from whether you have a good or bad day," Rose told BBC Sport. "It gets easier and easier the more times you're in contention."  | Although last year was great I ran into some trouble with injury, which is the first time that has happened |
The result was still his best in a major since he burst on to the scene as a teenager at the Open at Royal Birkdale in 1998 and tied for fourth as an amateur. "If you're going to win a tournament you've got to hit the right shots at the right time and it just didn't happen there," he continued. "I always feel like I've had a good time at Augusta. "I've got my name on the leaderboard two out of the three times I've played it - that's valuable experience." | 606: COMMENT |
After winning the European PGA Tour Order of Merit title for the first time in November, Rose took time off to prepare for this season. "I had to force myself to take some time off," he explained. "Although last year was great I ran into some trouble with injury, which is the first time that has happened. "I wanted to spend nine weeks working on my fitness, getting myself fit and strong to make sure I'd have an injury-free season." | Now when I come off the course I feel I can play again, I feel stronger |
Fellow Briton Lee Westwood also believes he is well-prepared, saying he is "closer to a major than ever" 10 years after his last tournament win in the US. "It's difficult to tell whether lack of fitness has cost me in the past - it's unquantifiable. In golf, there are so many different factors that come into it," he said. "Mental fatigue might be brought on by not being fit enough or by not eating enough. "Now when I come off the course I feel I can play again. I feel stronger, and it's easy to get my body into positions where I can control things."
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