By Phil Casey, PA Sport

It arrived just too late to truly qualify as a Christmas present, but Justin Rose could not have cared less.

When the white envelope with the Georgia postmark came through his letterbox, the 22-year-old knew he had achieved another lifelong ambition - a coveted invite to the US Masters.

A brilliant season in 2002 had already earnt Rose his first appearance in a major championship in America at the USPGA, while outscoring playing partner Tiger Woods in the first round of the Open at Muirfield revived memories of his heroics as a 17-year-old at Birkdale in 1998.

Finishing ninth on the Order of Merit ensured Rose would also make his US Open debut in 2003, but confirmation of his place in the elite field at Augusta was still a massive thrill for the young Englishman.

"I heard the Masters invite came around Christmas and thought it would be a nice Christmas present but I kept waiting and waiting and nothing happened," said Rose, who was practising at his new home in his native South Africa when the letter arrived in January.

"It was a couple of weeks late but an incredible feeling. After playing in the Open and USPGA it felt like the hardest major to get into and to get the call up was incredible.

"A friend of mine phoned from the house and said there was a letter from Augusta a week or so ago. I got him to read it out to me so that was very exciting. I remember watching the Masters from an early age."

Playing in all four majors this year is conclusive proof, if any were needed, that Rose has taken his game to another level, his ranking climbing well inside the top 50 in the world and gaining him entry to the lucrative world golf championship events.

The memories of his captivating display as a raw teenager at Birkdale, where he finished in a remarkable tie for fourth place, will follow Rose wherever he goes and for the rest of his career.

But perhaps now he is finally banishing the more unpleasant recollection of the times when the game did not come easy, and thoughts of strolling down Magnolia Drive to take on the best in the world were distant dreams.

The 21 consecutive cuts missed after he turned professional the day after his Open heroics have been well chronicled, and could well have seen a lesser person disappear from the radar screens never to be heard of again.

However, Rose refused to accept his fate or listen to those who criticised his decision to turn professional at the tender of age of 17, and mocked what they saw as an unhealthy over-reliance on his father and coach Ken.

With the help of his father, and later coach David Leadbetter, he began to iron out the small flaws in his swing and also learnt the skills necessary to be a top touring professional.

After two successful visits to the qualifying school in 1999 and 2000, the breakthrough came early in 2001 with back-to-back second places in South Africa, leading to a position of 33rd on the Order of Merit.

Still only 21, Rose then claimed his first tour title in January 2002, a few miles from where he was born in Johannesburg, capturing the Dunhill Championship title he had so narrowly missed out on 12 months before.

That was the first of four wins worldwide last year, a second win in South Africa following soon after and victories in Japan and England confirming his status as one of the best young players in the world.

There was alsdeep sadness off the course however, with Rose's father Ken - always the biggest influence on his career - finally losing his long battle with leukaemia late last year.

But Rose remains determined to enjoy a season which will see him playing in all four major championships for the first time, and many people feel he will be competing at the sharp end of those events, not just making up the numbers.

"Looking back two years when I finished second to Adam Scott at Houghton, that was a turning point in my career," said Rose, who has been preparing for his Masters debut by playing several US Tour events.

"And obviously a year or so ago, my first win, gave me the confidence to go to the next level.

"And now for the next level. I'm in all four majors which is fantastic.

"There were things off the course - like my dad - which makes you realise that a missed cut here and there is pretty insignificant, but I am going to enjoy this year.

"It's a schedule that means I'm at the top end of the scale in world golf. It's going to be a learning curve balancing my schedule with the majors and world championship events.

"My expectations are high and I think I can do really well but at the same time it's a learning curve. I think any time you go to a different level it poses different challenges and you've got to take those as they come. You continue to learn.

"I learnt last year that I can compete in America. My name was on the leaderboard in the first round of the USPGA and I hung in and finished 22nd, and then I was fifth in the NEC Invitational on a good, tight course where the PGA had been before."

Now all he needs is a better nickname.

"The American fans also seemed to know who I am," Rose added. "I had some people in the crowd every day shouting, 'Go JR."'

Just goes to show, you can't have everything.