Golfing globetrotter Justin Rose is in Japan this week defending the Chunichi Crowns Tournament he won so handsomely in 2002.

The 22-year-old Hampshire star took a two-week break after his 39th place finish in the US Masters and has had plenty of time to reflect on his first Augusta adventure.

One interesting statistic to emerge from Augusta was that while Rose finished 16 shots behind the winner Mike Weir, he took 15 putts more than the Canadian.

Equate that to how the two men played from tee to green and there was nothing between them. Well, just one shot to be precise.

Rose admits: "I played really well from tee to green but my putting let me down and an average of 30 putts a round is way too many to win this tournament.

"The greens are much more severe than the TV shows and it is that, combined with the pace of them, which makes it so tricky. But I know now I can play the course and if I had just holed three more putts a round I would have been in the mix, so that is something positive to take forward to future years."

After he plays in Japan, Rose will return home for his first European Tour event since playing the Johnny Walker Classic in February.

Despite that he remains high up in the European Order of Merit in 22nd place with earnings of just over £117,000 - a nice little nest egg to take into the Benson & Hedges Open at The De Vere Belfry on May 8.