After crashing out of the lead in the first major of the year with a third-round 81 – he went from two ahead to nine behind – the 24-year-old resumed the European Tour’s flagship event on 11 under par today and once more two ahead.

Rose may still be young, but he is experienced enough to see what happened in the Masters in a proper perspective.

“That’s obviously what Augusta is all about – it bit back in a large way,” he said.

“I tried my best all day and it was just frustrating. I just tried to grind it out, but hard as I tried I couldn’t turn it around. I tried on every single shot.

“It was tough. My good putts didn’t go in, my good shots didn’t get rewarded. Every break seemed to go against me.

“It hurts because I was thinking I was playing well enough to win, so it was a shame. But it’s not the end of the world and it was always going to be a great learning experience.”

He has had fifth and seventh places on the US Tour since and after missing the cut on his return to Europe last week has now put himself in line for a first prize of nearly £420,000 (€629,247).

World No 3 Ernie Els remains the favourite for it. Out in front after his opening 64, he fell back yesterday but birdied the two closing par fives to climb back into a share for second place.

Alongside him are three Ryder Cup players – Darren Clarke, Phillip Price and Swede Joakim Haeggman.

Els played with Rose last week in Germany and although Rose missed the cut there the South African says: “He’s got his tour card in America and one hell of a career going already.

“I think he’s one of the real talents that will compete in majors – he showed that again at the Masters.

“He’s still going through the apprenticeship, but he’s obviously the talent that England is looking for.”

Els and Rose spent part of last night attending a barbecue hosted by Clarke, but it was back to business today.

Clarke has not won since last August – the NEC world championship in Ohio - and Rose for almost two years.

The main lesson of the Masters for him is that “you can never get ahead of yourself really.

“It’s just incredibly boring to say it, but it’s just one shot a time. I think maybe at Augusta it was on my mind away from the course too much. Like you sort of churn away a little bit when you should be relaxing,” said Rose.

“I think I will have learned something from that. It’s not worth thinking about tomorrow til tomorrow comes, basically.

“At the Masters I had a slightly dodgy night and had nine hours between waking up and teeing off. I’m staying at home this week, so it’s a lot, lot easier to go and relax.”