Justin Rose is still hot on the heels of clubhouse leader Marc Leishman after nine holes of his second round at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club.
Rose, who won back-to-back events for the first time in his career in the lead up to the 143rd Open Championship, started on the back nine on five under par following an opening round 65.
Last year’s US Open Champion’s second round started poorly when he dropped a shot on the 14th, but two birdies saw the Englishman recover admirably.
Leishman lost his overnight lead after a mixed inward nine that contained three bogeys and as many birdies. However, a gain on the 12thhelped him retain his one shot advantage ahead of Rose and Canadian Graham DeLaet.
DeLaet made gains on two consecutive holes from the 11th and, despite bogeying the 14th, he hit back with a red figure on the next to propel himself up the leaderboard.
Three birdies helped Bubba Watson move to three under while J.B Holmes, Jim Furyk and Thomas Bjorn are one behind.
Rickie Fowler started on the tenth and a bogey on the 14th saw him slip five shots off the lead along with Tiger Woods.
The defending Champion, who has won eight times at the Firestone Country Club, had another mixed start with a birdie and two bogeys in his first four holes.
