Rose approaches full bloom

Justin Rose needs a top-two finish in the Portugal Masters which starts tomorrow to take the lead in the European Tour Order of Merit race.

Three events remain to decide who finishes the season as number one, but of the three players at the top – Ernie Els, Padraig Harrington and Rose – the 27-year-old Englishman is the only one at the Oceanico Victoria club on the Algarve.