It's top secret: US Open champion Justin Rose reveals all to Sportsmail

By DEREK LAWRENSON FOR MAILONLINE

Published: 17:19 EST, 12 July 2013 | Updated: 17:19 EST, 12 July 2013

The US Open champion on Seve Ballesteros, barbies and a new charity drive

Who is your sporting hero?

Greg Norman, Nick Faldo and the biggest of the trio: the incomparable Seve.

What would you be if you weren’t a sportsman?

I’d be an architect. I love the idea of starting a project from a piece of paper and seeing a tangible product at the end. 

Career highlight: Justin Rose celebrates winning the US Open

European tour legend: Seve Ballesteros, who died in 2011 aged 54, is one of Rose's sporting heroes

What is your career highlight?

Last year’s Ryder Cup at Medinah and the one I’ll go for: winning my first major, the US Open, at Merion last month.

And the worst moment?

I turned pro shortly after finishing fourth in The Open as a 17-year-old amateur and missed 21 halfway cuts in a row. Around the fourth or fifth was the lowest. 

If your house was burning down, what one possession would you save?

Any photographs of my dad (he died of cancer in 2002, aged 57). We weren’t a big photo-taking family growing up, so the ones I have are priceless.

Favourite song?

Jack and Diane by John Mellencamp.

Last film you saw?

Silver Linings Playbook. 

Interesting visitor: Rose would invite former South Africa president Nelson Mandela to dinner if given the chance

If you could have dinner with three famous people, who would it be and why?

I’d love to have met Nelson Mandela because of my South African heritage (Rose lived there until he was five); any president of the United States, to try to find out what they are really privy to; and a wild rock star, someone like Kid Rock, to see what their lives are like!

Can you cook? Best dish?

I’m a barbecue man: anything cooked on the barbie would be my area of expertise.

Favourite holiday destination?

We’re lucky enough to have a beautiful holiday home in Albany in the Bahamas.

In a film of your life, who would YOU like to play you?

It would have to be Daniel Craig, if only for the fact my missus fancies him!

Holiday pad: Rose owns a property in Albany in the Bahamas

For Queen and country: Rose, right, wants Daniel Craig to play him in a film of his life

Tell us a secret...

G-Mac, Poults and myself live practically next to one another on a fabulous golf course in Orlando and yet never get to play it together.

Rose and his wife have set up a foundation in Orlando to help underprivileged children. Blessings in a Backpack feeds 1,622 kids each weekend.