Hardworking Rose poised to pip happy-go-lucky Rory to end-of-season prizes

Justin Rose pictured on his way to winning the World Golf Final in Turkey earlier this month

Rory McIlroy famously arrived with just minutes to spare before his final day Ryder Cup singles match at Medinah and that approach has continued in recent weeks, so is he to be opposed in the next few tournaments? Ralph Ellis certainly thinks so...

Rory McIlroy called it his "monthly medal" moment - a police escort as he dashed in late for the final round of the Ryder Cup, walked on the tee with barely a practice swing, and then waltzed off with a win.

What happened after the world's number one golfer forgot to set his watch to the right timezone in Medinah was indeed the stuff of sporting legends. But somehow since then McIlroy seems to have taken it almost as a model for the future rather than a one-off.

He turned up in Turkey for the World Golf Final without touching his clubs in the meantime, and no wonder his repertoire then included a shot which I specialise in - lifting the head too early and driving the top of the ball deeper into the ground! Since then he's been to Russia to watch his girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki win the Kremlin Cup. Word is he took his clubs to do some practice, but never actually got them out of the bag.

McIlroy's current cavalier approach to preparation is all part of his dashing, devil-may-care image. It's the reason why he's such hot property as a global sportsman - there's rumour today that when his current deal with Titleist for clubs and clothing runs out at the end of the year there is a 156,000,000 ten-year deal with Nike waiting to be signed. Everybody loves to identify with the bloke who makes it look easy.

But it would worry me if I was thinking of backing him as the 6.05/1 favourite for the BMW Masters in China this week. The Betting.Betfair experts are split on Rory's chances - Paul Krishnamruty is keen to oppose, while The Punter has backed him to win! - and I am siding with the former.

I also think there are strong arguments to lay him at 1.51/2 in the Race to Dubai. The brutal truth of top-level sport is that you might be able to get away with one piece of poor preparation and let your talent take you through, but you can't keep doing it. Ultimately it's a work ethic that drives winners.

McIlroy, of course, is already clear and unable to be caught in the American money list and has a 350,000 lead in the Race to Dubai rankings. But with 930,000 to the winner in Shanghai this week that can quickly be caught, and Justin Rose in second place is in the sort of form to make that more than possible.

Rose is such a contrast in character to the young Irishman. He always struck me as one of those people who was old before he was old. Even when he holed that dramatic shot from the rough at Royal Birkdale in 1998 to burst on the scene with a fourth place finish in The Open, he seemed like he was 17 going on 32.

Well now he is 32, and not a lot has changed - well, not a lot unless you count a different clothing sponsor, chosen, according to his website, because "my sense of style has evolved."

He seems now to know who he is, where he's going, and what he wants out of life. His fantastic singles victory over Phil Mickelson at Medinah just acted as a spur for greater individual feats rather than became a cause for celebration and some time off.

Rose is 11.5n/a to win in China this week, and well worth backing at 3.55n/a for a top five finish. The only police escort he'll ever need is after his round has finished - to take his winnings to the bank.