George Saunders, like all other golf fans, was glued to the TV at the weekend, cheering on Justin Rose in the former Hampshire junior’s attempt to claim a Green Jacket at the 21st attempt at Augusta.
Saunders, who was crowned Hampshire U16 champion in 2015, said: “I love watching the Masters as all golf fans do.
“Justin has been a huge inspiration for the last few generations of golfers who have worn the light blue for Hampshire – winning a US Open (2013) and the Olympic Gold Medal (2016) as well as being crowned European and World No. 1 in a fantastic career.
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“As juniors, we all played in the competitions he played in as a kid when he was a member at Hartley Wintney, Tylney Park and North Hants, and some of us have got our names on the same trophies he won.
“We both won the Hampshire U14 title and if I could win the Amateur Championship at Royal Liverpool, in June, I would stand a real chance of getting an invite to play in next year’s Masters – that would be the real pinnacle of my amateur career.
“It’s a great dream to have, and as Rory McIlroy said after his epic win last year to complete the golf Grand Slam in every major, you should ‘never give up on your dreams.’
“I have spoken before about how I want to give more back to the game, and be as good an example as I can be, supporting the members at Liphook, who have been brilliant for me and Sam Hutsby down the years.
“But if I could match my old county team-mate and fellow Meon Valley member Harry Ellis and win the Amateur – and get that envelope with the hallowed invite to drive down Magnolia Lane next April – all the sacrifices and efforts since I was a junior will have been worth it.”
Report by Andrew Griffin
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