Rose secures long-awaited victory

Justin Rose has captured his first European Tour victory in four years by taking the co-sanctioned MasterCard Australian Masters in Huntingdale on Sunday.

Rose carded a final round one-over 73 to be 12-under overall, but he had to hold off a challenge from a throng of Australians, including amateur Aaron Pike.

The Englishman also made a disastrous triple-bogey at the par-five seventh which threatened to derail his hopes, but the world number 69 showed true grit to bounce back and don the gold jacket the winner of the event receives.

Pike provided the day's highlight by holing a bunker shot for eagle on the 14th - which Rose eagled in the third round - the stroke jumping the 21-year-old into a share of the lead at the time at 11-under.

But Rose, playing in the final group and following Pike, responded with a birdie at the 555-metre hole, and after giving a shot back at the 15th, another birdie at 16 set up the win.

Richard Green, the 2004 champion, carded a final-round 69 to finish at 10-under, equal-second with Greg Chalmers who sunk a long birdie-putt on the last for a round of 73.