JUSTIN ROSE conjured up a magical shot to prevent his hopes of becoming world No1 from vanishing.
Rose needs to win The Players Championship to give himself a chance of ending Dustin Johnson’s 15-month reign at the top of the world rankings.
But the English ace, 37, was alarmed to see Johnson — who has never managed a top ten at Sawgrass in nine attempts — charge up the leaderboard.
Johnson finished with a six- under-par 66, but Rose stayed in touch by shooting a 68 that was highlighted by a stunning eagle at the 308-yard 12th.
Unlike most of the field, the world No 5 spurned the chance of pulling out the big stick at the driveable par four.
He preferred to rely on his precision with a wedge, and it paid off when he holed his second shot from 98 yards.
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Rose said: “The 12th is a fun risk-reward hole, and normally if you make eagle there you think it’s going to be because you had a crack at the green. But I liked where the pin was for the wedge shot.
“I knew that I could put the wedge in there just a little bit to the right of the pin and let it spin down for an easy birdie putt.
“As it happened I hit my second shot straight at it and it took one bounce, checked and went in. That was a nice little bonus.
“I needed it, because I found myself thinking about the possibility of becoming world No 1 out there — at least until I saw Dustin’s name on the leaderboard going from four to five and then to six under!
“I thought I’d better play well to not go miles behind him. It’s vital to remain in touch when he puts together a round like that.”
Rose enjoyed being part of an all-English trio, alongside old pal Ian Poulter and last year’s European No 1 Tommy Fleetwood, who shot 70 and 69 respectively.
Poulter said: “It would be incredible to see Justin as world No 1. He’s got the game to do it.”
Two of the other men with a chance to dethrone Johnson — Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth — fluffed their lines.
World No 4 Spieth put the ball in the drink three times in his first seven holes as he slumped to a three-over-par 75.
Thomas, second in the rankings, had four bogeys and a double in a topsy-turvy 73. The third member of the group, Rory McIlroy, opened with a 71.
Meanwhile, Tiger Woods made a massive bogey on the last after holing a 15ft putt for a five to shoot level par.
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