ROSE: SAVE MY MASTERS
EDDIE SO ROCK STEADY
JUSTIN ROSE has called on the European Tour to save the British Masters next season.
A four-year deal with Sky Sports comes to an end today leaving the tournament without a backer with the 2019 schedule to be announced on October 22.
Tournament host Rose (right) said: “It would be a shame to lose this event. It’s one that’s close to my heart obviously having won it in 2002 with my dad around.
“Dare I say there are so many events on the
European Tour that maybe shouldn’t be there, that these are the ones that should be there.
“The fans really do come out in force in the UK and support these events. I’d urge anyone in the powers that be to make it happen.”
Rose shot a 69 yesterday to move to one-under par while Tommy
Fleetwood carded a 70 to sit one shot ahead.
Francesco Molinari shot a 75 and trails his brother Edoardo by four shots.
NEIL McLEMAN
STEADY Eddie Pepperell is ready to turn his first ever 54-hole lead into a home win at the British Masters today.
The Qatar Masters winner shot a solid 71 at windy Walton Heath yesterday to maintain his three-shot lead going into today’s final round.
Fellow Englishman Jordan Smith, Sweden’s Alexander Bjork, American Julian Suri and France’s Julien Guerrier are in a chasing pack in joint second place. Rain and cooler temperatures are forecast in the Surrey commuter belt later today.
But world No.50 Pepperell said: “I’m confident that I can go out there tomorrow and shoot three or four under and make everyone else’s life difficult.
“It is a new position for me. First time I’ve ever gone out there with a three-shot lead on a Saturday, so to have maintained it, I would say is not a failure. And I have never led going into the final round. It is cool to lead an event at home.
“Ask me tomorrow how it will feel to win here when hopefully I’ve got the trophy, I’ll be ecstatic. There’s a lot of time between now and then obviously.
“It’s going to be different tomorrow. Less breeze but wet and the course should play a bit longer.
“You could possibly see more birdies in that and it might be easier to get closer to the hole.
“I am looking forward to it.” Bath’s Smith, who closed the gap to two shots on the back nine before a bogey at 16 to shoot a 70, needs to get off to a quick start in pursuit of his second