No rest for Rose after first victory on PGA Tour

LEO Rose is only 15 months old, but even he was applauding as his dad Justin's long wait for a first victory in America ended at the Memorial Tournament in Ohio.

Celebrations, however, had to be put on ice – like Simon Khan after his BMW PGA Championship win two weeks ago Rose had to get up early yesterday to compete in a 36-hole US Open qualifier.

The fact that he was not already exempt for next week's event at Pebble Beach and still has to earn a place in next month's Open at St Andrews as well just shows how far Rose had fallen since he was sixth in the world two years ago.

There was even a danger he would sacrifice his European Tour membership to concentrate on the American circuit – and put a Ryder Cup place in jeopardy. But now all things look possible again.

The 29-year-old, who finally broke through in the States in his 162nd PGA Tour start, is up from 66th to 33rd on the world rankings and has leapt from 27th to eighth on the Ryder Cup world points list, just ahead of Wales Open winner Graeme McDowell.

Only four from that list, however, earn automatic places in Colin Montgomerie's side and since he plays so little in Europe it still looks likely that he will need one of three wild cards.

From four behind Rose shot a closing six-under-par 66, the low round of a day against a field which included Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, to beat Rickie Fowler by three shots.

Rose opened with a four- under 68 in the first round of the US Open 36-hole qualifier in Colombus, putting him in joint 12th place at the halfway point as 120 players battled over two courses for 15 spots at Pebble Beach next week.