Justin Rose insists there is no additional stress to avenge final yr’s play-off heartbreak at The Masters, having charged into midway rivalry at Augusta Nationwide.
A yr on from narrowly lacking out to Rory McIlroy on the first additional play-off gap, his third runner-up end at The Masters, Rose is difficult for main victory once more after rounds of 70 and 69 over the primary two rounds.
Rose mentioned after a bogey-bogey end to Thursday’s first spherical that the previous near-misses had been “a lesson that I can win here”, with the Englishman mixing 5 birdies with two bogeys to set the early clubhouse goal on Friday.
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Justin Rose shot a three-under 69 throughout his second spherical of The Masters.
“It [being in contention] is very satisfying,” Rose advised Sky Sports activities. It is a continuation of being on the leaderboard right here, maintaining the dream alive and persevering with to take pleasure in this nice match. That is the way it feels.
“I really feel no added stress or expectation due to what occurred final yr. I simply all the time take pleasure in competing right here. I am having fun with the group, they appear to be pulling for me on the market, so I am utilizing that nearly as good vitality.
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Talking forward of the 2026 Masters match, three-time runner-up Justin Rose prompt that Augusta would not owe him something
“Whenever I play well, I tend to play controlled golf and get pretty focused. The goal is just to try to keep it as free as I can as well. Don’t get too intense where you get in your own way, you’ve still got to keep it fun, light and aggressive, and keep it as loose as you can.”
The previous world No 1 recovered from an opening-hole bogey to publish 4 birdies in a five-hole stretch from the seventh, with Rose cancelling out a three-putt on the twelfth by making the most of the par-five fifteenth on 5 underneath.
“I thought I actually executed the game plan pretty well today,” Rose added. We all know what occurred final night time, final couple of holes, nevertheless it was difficult for everyone. At that time (after the primary 5 holes) I actually felt like issues had been feeling robust on the market.
“I managed to hit an eight-iron close and make a good save at the fifth and that settled things down and really built the round back up from there. There were definitely some missed putts, but I really felt like I played well and I give myself credit for staying patient in that critical part of the round.”
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Rory McIlroy made three consecutive birdies at first of his second spherical to leap forward of the chasing pack
Hatton goes from ‘headless’ to contender
Fellow Englishman Tyrrell Hatton heads into the weekend an extra shot again after racing up the leaderboard with a six-under 66, the place he posted seven birdies earlier than carding his solely bogey on the par-four final.
“I would have loved to have made at least a par at the last – but there were a lot of positives today,” mentioned Hatton, who posted his lowest career-round at Augusta and had described himself as ‘headless’ after a bogey the day gone by. “Making seven birdies out there’s not a straightforward factor to do.
Tyrrell Hatton is in rivalry to say a maiden main title
“I am happy with how I played and hopefully I can play well this weekend. I don’t think me being patient and positive mix very well, but I will try my best. If I hit good golf shots, that is the best way to keep myself calm.
“I clearly have not learnt sufficient about Augusta with a three-putt on the final! That is my tenth time right here and I really feel extra comfy with a whole lot of the tee pictures and the previous couple of years I’ve pushed the ball fairly properly. My iron play was higher right this moment as properly.”
Scheffler slips again after late bogeys
World No 1 Scottie Scheffler had been anticipated to shut on the leaders, coming into the second spherical inside three of the lead, solely to bogey each par-fives on the second 9 of a two-over 74 on Friday.
“I felt like I was really challenging,” Scheffler mentioned. “I played really pretty well. Today I felt like I played a lot better than my score.
Scottie Scheffler is seeking to win The Masters for a 3rd time
“I got off to a slow start. A few up and downs early that I should have had that I didn’t convert. Then I fought back to get it to even through I guess it was 12 holes.
“Then the golf green on 13, most likely my solely shot I might quite be capable to hit once more. Possibly a unique choice there. That is a troublesome shot, however I felt like I may make one thing occur to that pin.”
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