JUSTIN ROSE has received an 11th hour reprieve to try and save his European PGA Tour card.

He and Hampshire golfing pal Matt Blackey were last minute call-ups for the Italian Open starting in Sardinia today.

Both believed their chances of making the money they needed to keep their cards for next year had gone after being way down the reserve list for the Italian event.

But from being 20th and 23rd reserves respectively, Rose and Blackey have got in. Fortunately there were several drop-outs so me and Matt got in," said a relieved Rose.

There is no margin for error this week. Rose needs to finish in the top eight to reach the magic £72,000 exemption figure for the season; Blackey must make the top six.

It's a tall order but not impossible.

Blackey had a top eight finish in the Canon European Masters; Rose was 11th in the BMW International Open in Germany. Both those events had stronger fields than this week's Italian Open, but Rose has the unexpected handicap of having to break in new clubs.

His tried and trusted old irons, which he reintroduced to his golf bag in mid-season and contributed to a major upswing in his form, have been stolen.

Rose left his clubs unattended for a minute when he went to the North hants club bar for a bottle of water and that's all the time the thief needed to make off with them. They haven't been returned despite a nationwide television appeal by commentator Peter Alliss.

The bag came back but not the clubs but Rose is determined to make light of the handicap. "My game is strong and I feel confident going into the tournament and that is what matters most."