FORGET world number one Tiger Woods - the only professional golfer with four tour wins in the world this year is Justin Rose.

The biggest pay-day of his four-year professional career came on Sunday when he won by a single shot in the Victor Chandler British Masters at Woburn.

At 21, Rose is the youngest-ever winner of the event and his triumph helped him achieve his goal of reaching the world top 50.

His winner's pay cheque of £208,330 lifted him from 20th to seventh in the European Volvo Order of Merit.

In the world rankings, the Hook-based golfer leapt from 69th to 48th, which will guarantee him an automatic invitation to the US Open - one of the world majors - at Farmingdale, New York, starting on June 13.

Sunday's win was Rose's first on British soil and he was watched by his parents, Ken and Annie, and his grandparents, who were over from South Africa.

Rose said: "It's pinch yourself stuff.

"Four victories is amazing but I feel comfortable with it and I need to keep working hard.

"The last three wins have been in distant places - two in South Africa and one in Japan - so it's special to be able to give the family a hug this time.

"Mentally, I'm a lot stronger. I'm making fewer errors.

"I only had four bogeys all week and I'm doing everything a little better."

While he was tackling the Woburn course, he was a house guest of fellow pro and friend Ian Poulter in Milton Keynes.

The pair of them filled the top two spots and almost faced one another in a play-off.

The two Englishmen rapidly cut into the two-stroke advantage of third-round leader Phillip Price of Wales, who finished in third position.

Rose shot four birdies on the outward half on the final day to trail Poulter by a single stroke.

He drew level with Poulter at the top of the leader board with five holes to play when Poulter dropped a shot and Rose birdied while Price carded a six.

Rose maintained regulation figures to assume the lead for the first time at the 16th, where Poulter three-putted.

Poulter then had the chance to force a play-off at the last but his nine-foot putt slipped past the hole.

Rose, with a second successive seven-under-par round of 65, became the champion after opening rounds of 70 and 69.