JUSTIN Rose is running back into form just in time to make one last push for a precious slot in the US Masters at Augusta.

The Hampshire golfer, pictured above, is still haunted by the memory of squandering a halfway lead in last year's event.

He shot such a high third round that he tumbled out of the top 20 and lost his chance of even landing one of the exemption slots for 2005.

Now, after slipping to 83rd in the world rankings, Rose has to produce something special at Bay Hill this week or the Tournament Players Championship the week after to stand any chance of making it to Augusta.

There were heartening signs of a recovery in last week's Honda Classic where an eight under par total moved him into a tie for 14th place - a feat which generally went unnoticed as Ireland's Padraig Harrington grabbed a sensational victory with a last round 63.

Rose, who opened up with a 69 and closed with a 68, said: "My game was pretty solid. I'd started to putt well in the Ford Championship the week before, so things are getting back into shape."

On the downside, the indifferent rounds are still creeping in. It's been a hit or miss campaign so far, but Sunday's finish was Rose's best of the season.

Bay Hill and the TPC are the biggest events so far this year and Rose invariably responds to the big occasion. So expect some fireworks by the 24-year-old from Fleet, especially with a place in The Masters at stake.

l Hampshire have a double interest in the TCL Classic in China, which is new to the European Tour.

The event starts tomorrow with Southampton neighbours Richard Bland and Matt Blackey among the entries.

Bland missed out by just one place on a start in last week's Qatar Masters, while Blackey unexpectedly finds himself in the Chinese line-up after believing he would have to wait until next week's Indonesian Open to play only his second event of the year.

Last month Bland took an impressive 11th place in the Heineken Classic, but missed the chance of a good pay cheque in the Desert Classic two weeks ago when he missed the cut by one shot.

Blackey made the cut in the Dunhill Championship in December and the South African Open in January, but because of his low ranking coming out of Tour School, has not played since.