THE rise and rise of Justin Rose - from the horror of 21 successive missed cuts at the start of his pro career - reached new heights at Woburn yesterday.

Still eight weeks away from his 22nd birthday, Rose stormed to a brilliant one-stroke victory in the Victor Chandler British Masters.

Six strokes off the lead at halfway, the Hampshire youngster produced two closing rounds of 65 for his first victory on home soil and fourth title of the season. Not even Tiger Woods has managed that many.

This latest and best win came at the expense of the player who had allowed him to stay in his house all week, Ian Poulter.

Level with three to play after a terrific ding-dong battle - they had 15 birdies between them in the first 15 holes - Poulter three-putted the 16th and then missed a seven-foot chance to force a play-off on the final green.

Rose, whose 19 under par total in Germany two weeks ago left him a stroke behind play-off pair Woods and Colin Montgomerie, was 19 under again, but this time it earned him the £208,330 top prize.

Poulter's compensation was £138,330, which should be enough to dissuade him from sending Rose a bill for his board and lodgings.

Dropped shots on three of the closing six holes proved costly for Dorset's Shaun Webster in the final round.

Webster was on target for a handsome pay-day after birdies on the opening two holes of his final round propelled him to five under.

But Webster, who had pulled out all the stops to make the cut, slipped back to finish at one under after carding bogeys at the 13th, 15th and 16th.

The Dorset Golf Club touring pro finished tied for 67th and collected a cheque for £2,127.

Lee James closed the gap on Challenge Tour order of merit leader Simon Wakefield after finishing tied for 11th place in the Austrian Open in Murhof.

Southbourne-based James banked £1,644 after carding rounds of 70, 67, 69 and 68 to finish on 14 under par, seven shots behind eventual winner Markus Brier.