BLOOMIN' LOVELY!

Rose continues his hot Indian summer to stay in contention in Augusta sunshine

- NEIL MCLEMAN

JUSTIN ROSE'S Indian summer stayed hot on a glorious spring day in Georgia yesterday.

The Ryder Cup hero had claimed last year he was enjoying a late-career re-naissance after competing at the US PGA and finish-ing runner-up at the Open.

Rose, 44, repeated his forecast after his sizzling opening 65 that gave him the first-round lead. He added: "Golf is not going to get easier for me in the next five or 10 years so you have to make the most of it."

And the 2013 US Open winner sought to do just that in the second round yesterday with a one-un-der-par 71 to take the club-house lead on eight under.

Rose broke the record he had shared with Jack Nicklaus (circle) when he led the Masters after the first round for a fifth time.

The previous times he has topped the leader-board, he averaged 74 in his second round (2004 71, 2007 75, 2008 78, 2021 72).

And he has still to break 70 in his 20 Fridays here.