Sunday 10 April 2016 01:14, UK
Justin Rose is refusing to give up hope of a maiden Masters after superb back nines kept him within touching distance of the leaders.
Rose began the day an two-over-par and after an early birdie at three would have had high hopes of moving up the leaderboard.
However playing in the afternoon's blustery conditions the Englishman made the turn in 40 shots, finding himself at six-over the the championship.
Rose is made of sterner stuff and a tremendous back nine including four birdies saw him card a one-over par 73 to leave him in the clubhouse at three over par.
"I had no choice but to hang in there, the game has felt incredibly hard over the last couple of days," Rose told Sky Sports.
"I played the first three holes really well today and I felt good about my game. It's been really tough to judge the wind and any time I have found myself outside 30 feet, I've been having a hard time gauging the speed.
"You feel like being bounced around in the wind and that distorts the process as you are really just trying to stay solid with the putter."
With the conditions looking like easing for the later starters, Rose knows he is up against adding to his 2013 US Open title but he will not give up without a fight.
"I was really happy to dig in, and to come back in 33, setting myself up for a good run at it tomorrow," Rose added.
"We had [the weather] pretty tough all day and then on the last three holes were were wondering if the wind was beginning to lay down and both Jamie and I looked at each other a bit disheartened that the wind had died down.
"At this stage when you are three over you are looking at the leaders being four or five under par and thinking you need a little bit of help to maybe stay within five.
"But with the conditions maybe easing up they are probably going to put a bit more distance between me and them so it might be a bit of an uphill struggle tomorrow but I will come out swinging."
Another man out to make a move on Sunday will be Lee Westwood, the Englishman shot a fine round of 71, one of just two early starters to go under par for the day.
A blistering back nine leaves him at one over par and in the mix for Sunday after recovering from a slow start to finish with four birdies in his final seven holes.
"Even when i was three over through 11 holes I wasn't doing that much wrong," Westwood told Sky Sports.
"I just had to keep hanging in there and wait for the birdie chances to come. I hit a lovely nine-iron into 12 to about four feet and then knocked it close on 13 and knocked it to about four feet again with a nine-iron on 14.
"I then left it hanging on the edge on 17 and made a nice one on 18 so it was nice way to finish the round and give myself a chance for tomorrow.
"It's an inspiring place - the more you play it the more you learn. I'm trying to hang in there and edge up the leaderboard for when Sunday comes."
