JUSTIN Rose said he was delighted to be honoured by the people of north Hampshire as he collected the Gazette Sports Personality of the Year Award yesterday.

The US Open champion, who grew up in Hook, was presented with the award ahead of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, which gets underway today.

The 33-year-old claimed his first major title at Merion last June, and Gazette readers and a judging panel picked him as a worthy winner of the 2013 Sports Personality award as a result.

Rose said: “To be recognised for my achievements last year by the people of north Hampshire with this award is very pleasing, so thank you to everyone who voted for me.

“It’s nice to be recognised by people in the area where I grew up. You always remember where you grew up, and that’s often where you have your fondest memories.

“I get a Twitter alert every week from The Gazette, and it’s really nice that my progress is being put out to the people of north Hampshire. It’s nice to know that they are following my career.”