DORAL, Fla. -- Justin Rose will skip the next two weeks and go into the Masters having only played the WGC-CA Championship in the month leading up to Augusta National. But that's just the way he wants it.

The world No. 7 skipped the Arnold Palmer Invitational, even though he lives Orlando these days, and will also take the next two weeks off, not playing the PGA TOUR events in New Orleans or Houston. He tied for 15th place at the CA Championship on Monday.

Rose last year had five weeks off before the Masters and six weeks immediately after it, playing just one tournament in 12 weeks -- although that was not by choice, as he had a back problem that prevented him from competing.

Still, he tied for fifth at Augusta National and was second in his following start, which opened the 27-year-old's eyes to the fact a player need not necessarily grind his way into a major.

With Tiger Woods playing less frequently than any other top player, he believes, there must be something to the 'less is more' theory.

"I'm planning this year around what worked last year," said Rose. "Last year, I had two periods where I didn't play for six weeks and came out and played great."

Rose has played only five tournaments this year, starting in mid-February. After a slow start, he has posted top-15s in his past three starts. Interestingly, the CA Championship was Rose's first stroke-play tournament this year with Woods in the field.

"I've been getting better each week, really close to playing well," Rose said. "It hasn't quite all gelled yet. I've struggled with the putter a little bit, probably because I haven't read the grain that well in Florida."

MIAMI HEAT: Nick Dougherty played his first tournament in Miami at the WGC-CA Championship, but that doesn't mean he is a stranger in town.

"I love this part of the world," he Dougherty, who finished tied for 59th at Doral.

"I come on holiday here twice a year, not to Doral, to South Beach, but it's close enough," he explained. "And I grew up coming here on holiday, because my parents live in Orlando, so it's kind of a home from home for me."

Even so, this was just Dougherty's third World Golf Championships event, which is a little strange when he has played in seven major championships. Dougherty is comfortably ensconced inside the top 10 in the European Ryder Cup standings, thanks largely to a victory at last year's Dunhill Links Championship at St. Andrews.

GAME IMPROVEMENT: Ted Purdy went looking for his old form in an unfamiliar place.

After earning more than $5 million from 2004-2006, a stretch that included his lone PGA TOUR win at the Byron Nelson in 2005, Purdy fell out of the top 125 on the money list. But the PGA TOUR's first visit to Puerto Rico last week could be just what he needs to get back.

Purdy shot opening rounds of 66-68 before finishing up with a pair of weekend 73s to end the week tied for 10th place, six shots behind Puerto Rico Open winner Greg Kraqft.

After losing his TOUR card, Purdy flamed out in PGA TOUR qualifying. He headed to offseason vowing to improve two areas -- his conditioning and his short game.

On top of that, Purdy said he finished a wretched 180th on the PGA TOUR last year in efficiency from 30 yards and in.

"These were not effortless changes," he said. "There was some effort involved."

His status had him scrambling for playing time. He missed the cut in three of his five previous events and has earned about $24,468.

"I think Tiger's played the same amount and made over six million, so it's all relative," he said.

Copyright 2008 Associated Press and PA Sport. All rights reserved.