SCOTT GREGORY remembers chasing after Justin Rose desperate for his hero to sign his cap.
Now the Olympic gold medallist has taken the British Amateur champion under his wing and is helping him find an expert local caddie for his bid at Masters history.
Gregory, 22, idolises former US Open champion Rose and the two are always checking in with each other online.
They both hail from Hampshire and have pencilled in a practice round together at Augusta after meeting up at last year’s Open.
Gregory, who held the lead at Troon only to miss the cut, is in this year’s first Major courtesy of his win in arguably the world’s most prestigious amateur event last summer.
That put him one up on Rose already as the world No 13 never claimed that title.
Now Rose has taken Gregory under his wing and is passing on all his knowledge ahead of the Masters.
Gregory, who plays off plus four at Corhampton golf club, said: “I remember being at Wentworth when Justin came second.
“I was really young but I can remember chasing after him trying to get him to sign my hat.
“I liked to think that one day I will actually be playing with him but you never truly believe you really will.
“Justin has been quality for me. I got to the finals of some big events and he favourited tweets of mine.
“As soon as I won the British Amateur he messaged me saying well done and said we should hook up for a few holes.
“When I got to the Open he came up and introduced himself, which he didn’t need to do.
“He said if there was anything I needed just to go up and ask him.
“It’s nice when you’re in that environment, having never been in it before, to have someone who’s that good and who I’ve looked up to for years, to know they’re down to earth and normal.
“When he won the gold medal I messaged him and he got back to me that evening.
“It was so cool that he had just won a gold medal and he had the time to do that for me.
“Now Justin is helping me get a local caddie for the Masters.
“He had someone a couple years ago who was good and really helped him out. He’s trying to source the same guy for me this time.
“Justin knows what it’s like to be in my position.
“He played in the Open as an amateur and he knows what it’s like to turn up and be thrown in the deep end.
“It’s good to have someone like that who is trying to support me and make sure everything is going smoothly.
“Just the recommendation on a caddie at the Masters is a big thing.”
It is also a big deal for Gregory to have his parents at Augusta.
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Money is tight and it looked for a while as if they might not be able to afford the plane tickets.
Gregory said: "My dad, Mike, is a mechanical engineer, and does a lot of overtime to help with things.
"For him to come to the Masters he had to do 16 12-hour shifts on the spin to get money for the flights.
"It's not like it's easy for him to go.
"Luckily a friend has offered to put them up for the week and I think if he didn't do that then a lot of my family wouldn't be able to go because it's just too expensive.
"My girlfriend would definitely have found a way to go!
"I've got them the tickets but just to stay at Augusta the week of the Masters is not cheap and they've worked hard."
Gregory admits mum Anita and his dad can't go to the US Open in June because it costs too much.
That is the last of the Majors he can play in so then a move to the professional ranks beckons.
The final goal is the become just the second Brit in history and first in more than 100 years to win the British and American Amateur titles.
Gregory added: "I only have two goals left. I want to win the US Amateur and play in the Walker Cup in September.
"I'm 99 per cent sure I'll turn pro after that."
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