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Rose backs otf tackling lhe

his eyes shutJUSTlil Rose returns toThe Masters this week

Two wins in America in under amonth put the Hampshire playeramong the favourites at St Andrewsbut, after being paired with TigerWoods, he fell seven shots off thelead on the first day and, with a sec-ond round 77, missed the cut.

"It's nice to be going back toAugusta (he failed to qualify 12months ago) in a decent run of form,but having said that I went into TheOpen last year on a pretty hot run,"Rose, pictured, said.

"I think the mistake I've tried notto repeat is over-preparing. Frommy second win I went straight to theJP McManus Pro-am in li'eland fortwo days and then went straight toSt Andrews for three or four days. ,

"It might have been a bit ofoverkill, but I feel like I'm in agood spot now - I don't thinkmy preparation could havebeen any better."

A stay at the Albany Clubin the Bahamas was part ofRose's build-up this time. Itenabled him to keep his gameticking over.

"The Masters is the onetournament we pros proba-bly .over-prepare for. We

mer's magical spell, but finishedfifth and third on his last two startsand comirleted the Arnold PalmerInvitational with a back nine 31.While others were throwing shotsaway like'confetti the 30-year-oldhad an eagle and four birdies.

"At the time I probably didn'trealise how spectacular it was to behonest, which is often the indicationthat you are in the right head space,"he said.

"I wouldn't have said it was possi-ble to score what I did. I was playingsmart golf when you had to and itwas great to get a reward for doingthings right. I felt like the previousSunday (he led the TransitionsChampionship with a round to go

Masters with

feeling as good about hisgame as he did headinginto The Open last year -and determined not tomake the same mistake.

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"Augusta might be a slightly differ- tendency is to try harder, but what two days in 2004 and after the t