Sunday 9 April 2017 01:35, UK
Justin Rose says patience was the key to a blistering back nine that has laid the groundwork for a 'fun day' on Sunday at the Masters.
Rose claimed his maiden major with the US Open at Merion in 2013 and has been a perennial Masters contender since 2007 with a best of tied-second in 2015.
Fives birdies on the back nine, including three in the last four holes, gave the Englishman a 67 for the best round of the day and a share of the lead. He will play in Sunday's final group as he targets a second second major title.
"It all happened for me on the last eight holes but my patience on the front nine was the key to moving well on the back nine," he said.
"I had my head down and I knew I was creeping up on the leaders and that quick birdie-birdie finish put me right up there. The finish was such a bonus.
"It all seemed to happen really fast but it sets up a really fun day tomorrow. I've started to hit some quality iron shots and that has some up some birdie opportunities and today I felt really comfortable with the putter.
"I have playing some good golf and steady golf, I've been waiting for an extra gear and I seem to be finding it - hopefully I can keep trending this year the way I have been playing."
Lee Westwood recovered from a disappointing second round to fire a brilliant four-under-par round of 68 to move into red figures for the week.
The 43-year-old from Worksop has had two runner-up finishes at Augusta (in 2010 and 2016) while his career is littered with near misses at the majors.
At one-under-par he is well placed for a Sunday charge and knows all too well what can happen on the back nine at Augusta having been alongside Danny Willett last year as Jordan Spieth collapsed.
"I wanted to get into the red and I managed to do that just about," he told Sky Sports' Tim Barter.
"I can't be too disappointed with that, I left a few out there on the front nine especially but all-in-all I was please with the way I played.
"My short game is pretty good and I rolled in some nice putts and got a bonus on 17 from about 40 feet.
"The course was a lot easier, more scoreable despite harder flags."
Paul Casey, who has finished tied sixth and tied fourth at Augusta in the last two years, shot a superb three-under-par round that could have been even better.
Having fired four birdies through the first 17 holes, the Englishman recorded his only dropped shot on the 18th hole for a 69 that leaves him at level par for the championship, a score he feels leaves him just too far behind the leaders.
"I'm flying under the radar, because I generally think I'm just too far out of it.
"You look at the overall score and I think you have so many great players on that leaderboard, somebody will keep pushing on and make a couple more.
"Tomorrow all those guys are going to stumble, when you've got Spieth and Fowler and Rory, [plus] some [players] the non‑golf media don't know as well, but the Charley Hoffmans and William McGirts, those guys are tough. More than one of those guys will keep tracking on."
