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Rose blooms among the azaleas as superb back nine keeps him in Masters contention

Englishman seemed to have blown his chances before storming back in the second half of the day

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Justin Rose pumps his fist after a birdie on the 18th. Photo: Reuters

Justin Rose all but played himself out of Masters contention after five holes of his third round on Saturday before putting together a superb back nine that hoisted him right back into it.

The 34-year-old Florida-based Englishman started the day in joint second place, seven shots back off leader Jordan Spieth and looking to quickly cut into that margin.

Instead, bogeys at the first and fifth had him going the other way and slipping off the leaderboard.

A word with his caddie, and a decision to fully commit to his shots, turned the tide and a sensational five birdies in the last six holes propeled him up the leaderboard with a 67.

Rose ended the day alone in second place, four shots behind Jordan Spieth, and gave him a spot in the final pairing on Sunday at the Masters for the first time.

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