World number three Justin Rose has heaped praise on coach Sean Foley after helping him win his first-ever Major at the US Open in the early hours of Monday morning.
The 30-year-old carded a final-round total of 70 to edge out nearest rivals Phil Mickelson and Jason Day by two shots as he claimed his maiden big honour.
Rose insists that he and coach Foley are more than just player and coach and that he would not have been able to accomplish his recent success without him.
"In two weeks' time at the AT&T National, that will be our four-year anniversary, and I feel like my golf game has gotten better and better every year," Rose said. "For me to come into a US Open and feel like this is one of my legitimate chances to win a major is a testament to my ball striking.
"Last year I was leading both tours in greens in regulation and this year there's been a big improvement in my driving stats. I picked up a little bit of yardage and was hitting it a little bit straighter so I've got to give a lot of credit to Sean. He also sent me a very nice text on Sunday morning that was unrelated to golf. He said something along the lines of just go out there and be the man that your dad taught you to be and be the man that your kids can look up to.
"The relationship that Sean and I have is more than just a player/coach relationship. I regard him as a true friend and I regard him as someone who, if I ever had a question upon golf or upon life, he would be very much at the top of my list. He's a very interesting character and very strong mentally and he passes that on as well."
Canadian Foley also works with world number one Tiger Woods and Hunter Mahan.
Matt Cotton
