Rose - world ranking down to 88th (Getty Images)

Two of Britain's best-known golfers had to content themselves with television and remote control rather than club and ball when the 69th Masters began at Augusta National.

Colin Montgomerie's absence has been well documented, his performances around the world this year good, but not quite good enough to get him back into the world's top 50 in time or earn him an invitation.

But Justin Rose's failure to be part of the 93-man line-up is sadder in many ways.

It looked set to be the making of the 24-year-old from Hampshire when he took a two-stroke first-round lead last year with a five-under-par 67.

"It's a dream start," he said at the time. "It's a magical place and a joy to be out there.

"Hopefully it's time to move onward and upward even more. I think if you can sort of kid yourself into not tending to worry too much about 'this is the Masters' or things like that, then you have a good chance."

By adding a 71, Rose, playing just his second Masters, remained two ahead.

"Dealing with what I did today gives me confidence. Hopefully the week will build that way for me rather than go the other way," said the youngster, still best remembered for his fourth-place finish in the 1998 Open when a 17-year-old amateur.

But then came a nightmare 81 and a crestfallen Rose reflected: "I'm still a bit shell-shocked and embarrassed, to be honest. I just got off to a terrible start with three bogeys.

"Everything that could go wrong did go wrong, but hopefully I can finish with a sub-par round to try and make it back into the top 10."

The top 16 get invited back to Augusta, but while Rose managed a 71 it lifted him only to 22nd and he missed out by two shots.

"Maybe you have to lead a couple before you can win one - I've learnt a lot," he said. "Leading a major was new ground and that will stand me in good stead."

There were three majors left in 2004, of course, but Rose missed the cut in the US Open, failed to qualify for the Open and missed the cut in the US PGA.

Now, with his world ranking down to 88th, he is back at his Florida base rather than experiencing the thrill of Augusta again.

The former British Masters champion had four wins in 2002 but has not won since. That is the ultimate goal again, but the immediate priority is establishing himself on the US tour.

"The key for me this year is to focus on the process of putting little building blocks in place," he said.

Missing out on the Ryder Cup last year was another disappointment and whether Rose makes into the 2006 line-up in Ireland remains to be seen because he needs to take up European Tour membership again first.

"It's very, very difficult, if not impossible, to play both tours if you're outside of the top 50 in the world and right now I am," Rose reflected.

"If I get back in, that may well change my direction for the rest of the year, but right now it's one or the other and it's going to be this side if I have to choose.

"But I'm sure I'll find a way to be eligible because that's obviously a big objective of mine."

As is getting back to Augusta, of course.

"My game is in good shape at the moment, but having not qualified for the Masters I am all dressed up and nowhere to go this week."