+ Rose nosedived to the course record
Justin Rose started the US Masters with three straight birdies – and continued to play great golf after that strong start. The 44-year-old Englishman was at one point eight under par (the course record is nine under), but finished with the day's only bogey for 65 strokes and a three-stroke lead.
This is the fifth time Rose has led after the first round – a new Masters record. Yet, he has never won, with his closest finish being second place after a playoff with Sergio García in 2017.
It feels like I've played well enough to win this tournament. It's just that I don't have the green jacket to prove it, says Rose.
+ The world number one was flawless
Scottie Scheffler has won in 2022 and 2024 and seems to want to be in the mix for victory this year as well.
68 strokes without a single bogey was an opening round where the American rarely found himself in trouble.
It felt like I had to fight for par twice today, where I had to make really good "up-and-downs". Apart from that, I had the golf course in front of me all day, kept the ball in play and did a lot of really good things out there.
+ McIlroy lost everything
Much of the pre-tournament talk has been about Rory McIlroy's eternal hunt for a Masters title and the completion of a "career grand slam" – winning all four major titles.
McIlroy, in the same three-ball as Ludvig Åberg, played high-class golf for a long time. But a few disastrous mistakes towards the end of the round ruined the day for the Northern Irishman.
He hit a (admittedly difficult) chip into the water on the 15th hole. That became a double bogey. The next double bogey came on the 17th, after McIlroy hit the approach far too long and got into trouble.
In three holes, McIlroy went from –4 to par – and if he is to succeed in blending in with the top contenders, there is hardly room for any more double bogeys.
+ Couples went under par
Fred Couples started with 71 strokes and shares 11th place.
What's interesting about that?
The American, winner at Augusta in 1992, has reached the age of 65 and is now the second-oldest player of all time to go under par in a Masters round. Tom Watson was 28 days older when he also had 71 strokes in 2015.
Couples made the shot of the day on the 14th hole when he sank the approach for an eagle, from around 170 meters.
Carl Göransson/TT
Facts: The standings in US Masters
TT
-
Justin Rose, England, 65 strokes.
-
Corey Conners, Canada, Scottie Scheffler, USA, and Ludvig Åberg, Sweden, all 68 strokes.
-
Tyrrell Hatton, England, and Bryson DeChambeau, USA, both 69 strokes.
