By Phil Casey, PA Sport, Augusta

Justin Rose simply cannot wait for the 'gun to go off' to signal the start of his US Masters debut on Thursday.

Rose played practice rounds with close friends Charles Howell, a native of Augusta, and Australian Adam Scott on Monday and Tuesday of last week.

And the young Englishman will be in exactly the same company when the first major of the year gets under way on Thursday, teeing off at 1033 BST local time (1533 BST), the group in front of defending champion Tiger Woods.

"It's an awesome draw, it will be just like a practice round," Rose said as he played the third hole on Wednesday alongside Scott and former Open champion Paul Lawrie.

"We're right in the middle of the action there and it's going to be a great atmosphere, they are two good friends of mine.

"We played here on Monday and Tuesday last week. It was beautiful, the greens were fast, really shiny and quick, and there was a nice little wind blowing. The course was playing really tough.

"The greens have slowed up a little bit, but I'm not paying too much attention to the speed of the greens today because I'm pre-empting them really doing something crazy and getting them quicker for tomorrow.

"I'm really relaxed and having a great time. I'm looking forward to the gun going off tomorrow. I feel my game's ready. It's just a matter of committing to your shots around this course.

"There's a lot of danger around this course, but you've just got to take it on sometimes and commit to your shots. It's going to be a fun week."

Rose picked the perfect practice partner on Tuesday, playing 18 holes with three-times Masters champion Nick Faldo.

"He showed me where some of the pin placements are going to be which was pretty handy," added Rose, who won four times worldwide last year to move into the top 50 in the world rankings and secure his place at Augusta.

"He was even talking about little chips and putts and where it's good to have your second putt from.

"Sometimes you have to be aware of where the best place to miss is. He was in good form and we had a good day."

Rose has warmed up for his first appearance at Augusta by playing three US Tour events last month, making the cut in all of them as well as beating former Open champion David Duval in the first round of the Accenture World Matchplay.

And his coach David Leadbetter believes the 22-year-old is ready to make a successful debut on only his sixth appearance in a major championship.

"I'd say he's very ready," Leadbetter said. "He's played very well up to this point during his trip to the States, he just hasn't quite finished off the job.

"It was probably more mental than anything else and he realises here how tough it is to keep up a very high level of play. If you drop a shot or two, the whole field passes you.

"He's swinging really well at the moment. You never know what to expect as a rookie here, but I think he'll give a good account of himself.

"After playing last week and now in the wet, he's seen it all and I'm sure as the weather improves it will return to that hard and fast golf course.

"It's a great draw for him, they're good friends of his and it's just a matter of not getting drawn into a matchplay situation.

"They'll feel very comfortable and it will be interesting as they are three young guns and will probably be vying for bragging rights!"

Although there have been plenty of changes made to the course since his former, and most famous, pupil Faldo won the last of his three green jackets in 1996, Leadbetter believes the former champion's advice will be very useful as Rose attempts to plot his way around the course 'like a chess player.'

And he added: "Justin feels like a kid out here, but he's performed well under pressure.

"You look at the Open last year (where he outscored playing partner Tiger Woods in the first round), the NEC in Seattle - finished fifth on competitive debut in America - he likes the big occasion.

"I think he'll do fine."