JUSTIN ROSE has finished his best ever golf season under a cloud after the demoralising news that his father Ken has suffered a setback in his battle to shake off leukaemia.

After almost nine months of intensive treatment Ken seemed to be making a heartening recovering back in early summer.

He was putting on weight and walking the golf courses of England again following his son, but his wife Annie revealed last night: "Unfortunately Ken's back in hospital.

"He's receiving chemotherapy treatment and we hope and pray he responds in the same way as he did a few months ago."

For Justin, last week's Volvo Masters, for the top players in the European Order of Merit, was going to be a celebration of a season in which he earned over £380,000 and became one of the most consistent of a bright new posse of English players.

But he admitted: "I went to the Italian Open a couple of weeks ago and to be honest I wasn't really up for it.

"I tried to get something positive going at the Volvo Masters and made a good start with a 69 which put me up into eighth place.

"But on the second day the wind got up and after a couple of double bogeys I was five over after four. I'm never one to give up a fight but with all other things that were in my mind, I just couldn't get back after that,"

Two second places in South Africa which secured his card for next season were, says Justin the high points of the season although he admitted: "Perhaps my biggest disappointment was not winning one or both of them because I played as well as anybody but couldn't sink the decisive last putt."

Rose had four top ten places but he summed up: "I maybe had too many finishes between 20 and 40. Right now I'm playing to about 40 per cent of by capability. There's a lot more to come out."