Justin Rose used a red-hot putter to seize a three-shot lead over a trio of gamers that included defending Masters champion Scottie Scheffler at Augusta Nationwide, the place Grand Slam-seeking Rory McIlroy bumped into hassle late.
Rose, twice a runner-up on the yr’s first main, wanted simply 22 putts en path to a seven-under-par 65 that equalled the Englishman’s finest begin to a Masters.
It’s also the fifth time Rose has had the first-round lead or co-lead on the Masters, surpassing {golfing} nice Jack Nicklaus for many within the event’s historical past.
“It was a very good day’s golf on a golf course that was a stern check. I believe for those who have a look at the general leaderboard, not many low scores on the market,” Rose informed reporters. “A number of high quality photographs, and delighted the best way I performed.”
World primary Scheffler, who this week is trying to grow to be the fourth golfer to retain his Masters crown, was in a share of second place with 2024 runner-up Ludvig Aberg and Canada’s Corey Conners.
The 44-year-old Rose, who went out with the late starters, wasted no time making a transfer as he kicked off his spherical with three consecutive birdies and added one other three in succession across the flip earlier than back-to-back birdies at 15 and 16.
The one blemish on the cardboard for Rose, who with a win right here would grow to be the oldest first-time Masters champion since a 41-year-old Mark O’Meara received in 1998, got here on the 18th the place he made bogey after his tee shot missed the green.
Scheffler’s spherical included an enormous birdie putt from 62 ft on the par-three fourth and a pair of up-and-down par saves after sensible chips out of greenside bunkers at each the seventh and seventeenth holes.
“Anytime you may hold a card clear out right here it’s a very good factor… I struggled for what felt like two pars right this moment,” mentioned Scheffler.
“I needed to make two actually good up-and-downs. However, aside from that, the golf course was in entrance of me a lot of the day, saved the ball in play, did quite a lot of actually good issues on the market.”
With that lengthy putt on the 240-yard fourth gap, Scheffler has now made not less than one birdie on all 18 holes at Augusta Nationwide throughout his profession.
McIlroy stumbles at begin of Grand Slam search
Conners made a late transfer with birdies on three of his closing 4 holes whereas Swede Aberg, taking part in in his second Masters, vaulted into rivalry with 4 back-nine birdies.
Fan favorite Bryson DeChambeau, a two-time main winner and one among 12 LIV Golf members within the 95-player area this week, was in a share of second place till a late bogey dropped him right into a share of fifth place and 4 photographs again of Rose.
World quantity two McIlroy, needing a Masters win to finish the profession Grand Slam however who appears to be hampered by one poor spherical every week on the Masters, was three again of Rose earlier than a crushing double-bogey on the reachable par-five fifteenth.
The Northern Irishman was cruising together with a clear card till every little thing modified on the fifteenth the place his method shot sailed over the inexperienced and he then watched helplessly as his chip rolled off the slick placing floor and into the pond.
McIlroy, who got here into the Masters with two PGA Tour titles earlier than April for the primary time in his profession and as a preferred decide to win a primary Inexperienced Jacket, then double-bogeyed 17 after lacking the inexperienced and three-putting from 28 ft.
The four-times main winner settled for an even-par 72 that leaves him with loads of work to do that week if he needs to grow to be the sixth participant to finish the profession Grand Slam of golf’s 4 majors.
For McIlroy, who’s in a share of twenty seventh place, it marked the primary time he has carded a number of double bogeys or worse in a spherical on the Masters for the reason that second spherical of the 2014 version.
Among the many different notables, 2023 Masters champion Jon Rahm struggled to a three-over 75 whereas Xander Schauffele, looking for a 3rd win in 4 majors following triumphs finally yr’s PGA Championship and British Open, opened with a 73.
Former champion and fan favorite Fred {Couples}, making his fortieth Masters begin, carded a one-under 71 that was highlighted by an eagle from 191 yards on the par-four 14th.
The 65-year-old {Couples} not solely completed the primary spherical in a share of eleventh place but in addition because the second oldest to interrupt par in a spherical at Augusta Nationwide.
“Right now I’m glad as a clam,” mentioned {Couples}.
