JUSTIN Rose suffered a nightmare final eight holes at the Cadillac Championship yesterday, three double-bogeys seeing him drop out of contention for a top-five finish.

The north Hampshire golfer ended the tournament, the second World Golf Championship event of the year, in a tie for 34th on +6, 10 shots behind winner Patrick Reed.

Rose got off to a slow start, carding 74 (+2) on the opening day, while three double-bogeys resulted in a five-over-par round of 77 on day two at Doral, in Florida.

He recovered during the third round, hitting four birdies on the back nine to card a two-under-par round of 70, and his hot streak continued on the final day.

Six birdies in the space of seven holes had him five-under-par for the day and level par for the tournament after 11 holes, just four shots off the lead.

Had he been able to par the last eight holes, the former Robert May’s School pupil would have claimed a share of fourth place.

Instead, he found greenside bunkers at both 13 and 14, resulting in two double-bogeys. He then found the water with his tee shot at the 16th and took another double to fall to +6.

Rose, the world number seven, has had a slow start to the season due to a bout of tendonitis in his shoulder. However, he is due to be in action again this weekend, playing at the Valspar Championship, at Innisbrook Resort – Copperhand, in Palm Harbor, Florida.