Justin Rose gives chasing pack hope of catching Jason Day at Sawgrass

15 May 2016 06:53

Justin Rose gave the chasing pack hope of reeling in world number one Jason Day as easier conditions looked set to prevail on the final day of the Players Championship.

Rose was among the vast majority of players to struggle on the firm, fast greens at Sawgrass on Saturday, the former US Open champion struggling to a third round of 78.

That meant an early tee time on Sunday, but the world number 10 took advantage with a six-under-par 66 containing two bogeys and eight birdies, the last four coming in a row from the 14th.

At five under par Rose had climbed into the top 25, with Day enjoying a four-shot lead on 14 under as he looked to join Tiger Woods (twice), Tom Watson and Johnny Miller in recording multiple wire-to-wire wins in a season following his victory in the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill.

The 28-year-old Australian was also seeking his 10th PGA Tour title, a third win of 2016 and an incredible seventh victory in his last 17 events, a run which includes his record-breaking first major title in the US PGA Championship at Whistling Straits.

Victory would also see Day join Woods, Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott and Martin Kaymer as the only players to win the Players Championship, a major title and a WGC event in their career.

Rory McIlroy's bid to join that exclusive club would almost certainly have to wait until next year, the world number three starting the final round nine shots off the pace after a third-round 75.

A birdie on the second lifted McIlroy to six under par, but another good chance went begging on the sixth to leave the four-time major winner with work on his hands to secure a fourth straight top-10 finish in the event.

Source: PA