text: Justin Rose might just have made the most important pencil mark of his entire career to put himself in contention at Augusta this weekend. The 2013 US Open champion ended the day on seven under, sharing third place and is one of a handful of players hanging on to the coat tails of runaway leader Jordan Spieth. But it took a neat bit of psychology to rescue his round after a disastrous start as he tried to build on his opening-day 67. Rose bogeyed three of the first four holes, finding himself playing from the trees as he recovered from wayward tee shots. And that was where the magic pencil line came to his rescue. He revealed: ‘I was feeling really uncomfortable with my game, so I drew a line on my scorecard at that point, like you draw a line in the sand. Justin Rose battled back from a nightmare start and is in contention at Augusta . Rose tees off at the 18th as he now sits joint third, seven shots behind runaway leader Jordan Spieth . Rose flips his club after hitting from a trap on the 13th during a decent round for the Englishman . ‘I told myself to move on and take one shot at a time. I made a great birdie at the 5th and that rallied me, and after that I played with the same rhythm as the first day.’ The dramatic transformation was then followed by a spectacular back nine with birdies at both par threes, putting tee shots to within a few feet of the hole both times. And 34-year-old Rose believes the change of fortune can continue into the weekend. He said: ‘I’m starting seven back and Jordan has played beautifully so far, but we all know a lot can happen. There’s magic out there on this course and it’s up to me to make something special happen.’ Maybe Ian Poulter could borrow Rose’s pencil after a disappointing day in which his putter couldn’t get going. He was par for the round after bogeying the 18th and sits at one over for the tournament. He said on Twitter: ‘Really disappointed. It’s simply unacceptable and disgraceful putting — 34 putts for level par is pathetic.’ Earlier, 19-year-old Scot Bradley Neil had a tough day, shooting a 79 and finishing 13 over. He has ben tipped for big things by Rory McILroy but admitted: ‘I’d prepared well for this, but it shows my game is not good enough yet,’ he admitted. ‘I need to work hard on it if I want to get back here.’
target: Rose put himself in contention, ending the second day on seven under .
  It took a neat bit of psychology to rescue his round after a disastrous start .
  Rose bogeyed three of the first four, finding himself playing from the trees .
  And that was where the magic pencil line came to his rescue .