LESS than 24 hours after jetting home from his golfing exploits in the US Open, Justin Rose was supporting a charity very close to his heart.

Hampshire's golfing hero was hosting a fund-raising event at the Weybrook Park Club to raise money for a new cancer ward at the nearby Basingstoke Hospital.

"I wanted to help out because my dad spent so much time in the same ward," said Rose.

Sadly, Ken Rose lost a two-year battle against leukaemia last September, but Rose had future cancer sufferers in mind when he agreed to support fund-raiser Sue Williams.

Sue is trying to find £400,000 for the new ward and is already £250,000 towards her target.

Rose said: "Having spent a lot of time there visiting dad, it's good to know that the money being raised will go towards creating a nicer environment for the patients."

Rose is still trying to come to terms with the death of his father, who he admitted "was a big influence in my life.

"I ran every decision past him and, golfing wise, if I had a problem he was the one I turned to.

"If he was there we would sort it out on the practice ground; when I was away we were constantly in touch.

"I miss him but he taught me to be my own man, to stand on my own feet and those lessons are holding up good.

"I needed to concentrate like mad to hang on in at the US Open but I knew at the back of my mind it was Father's Day. And when I finished I dedicated that one to him. I know he would have been proud.

"To be honest, I've felt a bit flat all year. But this result has given me a lift. Hopefully it will carry me to a new level.

"It's certainly a good confidence booster going into our own Open Championship next month."

Three club golfers paid a total of £1,100 to play 18 holes with Rose. One was Test Valley 24-handicapper Darren Lambert who paid £500 for the honour of partnering his golfing hero.

Darren comes from Oakley near Basingstoke, just down the road from Hook where Justin grew up, and he said: "Being a local boy, I've followed his career very closely. What he did in America last week was fantastic.

"This is one of the biggest thrills of my life to actually play with him," added Darren, who runs his own recruitment business which caters for children with special needs.

Rose's two other partners, Tony Mynard and James Tough, travelled south from Birmingham. They heard of the fund-raiser through their company who have business links with the Basingstoke Hospital.

Biggest problem for Rose on a cool, blustery day, was finding the pace of the Weybrook Park greens. They were considerably slower than those at Olympia Fields last week!

The whole event raised a whopping £8,000. Eighty players paid £50 apiece to take part and a late-night auction proved a resounding success with a set of authenticated 1997 Ryder Cup irons going for £500, a signed Tiger Woods cap for £400 and the 18th flag from the 2001 US Open, won at Southern Hill by Retief Goosen, and signed by Retief himself, for £400.

Rose did the event proud. He was there at 10 o'clock in the morning to greet the first players to tee off and didn't leave until midnight.