As a measure of the brilliance manifested by an English veteran, there were times when it was almost possible to forget that a Spanish amateur had urinated in Rae’s Creek. This was the surreal nature of the opening day at the Masters.
At the end, a classification loaded with large animals belonged to Justin Rose, whose 65 loop placed him in a fabulous place that he knows well and which we perhaps assume beyond him.
But he is there, 44 years old and fixing the pace after the first round for the fifth time in his career.
This detail is not dismissed in the history of this event, with the obvious botter that he never pushed to conclude the agreement. But if the speed of the door counts for something, it is that this wise English head can still surprise the best of young loaders and its swing remains timeless.
He was superb in his destruction of the course, carding a barely complete 31 on the first nine, then threatening to break the record for the first round of 63 after having shot for the house. Upon entering the 18th, he at least had the chance to match it, only to drive in the trees en route to a Bogey.
Justin Rose storm an early advance on the first day of the 2025 masters with a first round of 65
Rose says he just needs luck in the coming days and has played well here before
It was superb in its destruction of the course, carding a barely complete 31 on the first nine
At seven sub-parts, he will probably not lose too much sleep in this scenario. It left him three times the double champion Scottie Scheffler, Ludvig Aberg and Corey Conners, and four ahead of Bryson Dechambeau and Tyrrell Hatton.
The 69 of the latter suggest that he finally found a way to get along with a course for which he never felt any affection.
Rory McILroy was about to join the Four Under cohort, but succumbed to calamity with two double bogys in his last four holes.
Each aspect of his relationship with this earth is complicated and this collapse at a 72 was generally dramatic, the lowest point arriving on the 15th when he exceeded his approach and has long gone green. By thinking the hill, his ball made a trip condemned to the water.
When he later pulled a chip out of 17, all the good work of his round was whipped. If someone on the ground felt more visible, it would have been Jose Luis Ballester, the 21 -year -old lover who was caught in the 13th and was then spotted relieving himself. Time will tell us if Augusta National’s August guys see the funny side.
As for Rose, beaten in a play-off here in 2017 and also a finalist in 2015, it was a superb day and a nice return to form after missing the cup at half of her tournaments this year.
He said, “This year I told people, my good is good. When I played well, I feel like I have contributed to a high level. My consistency may not have been so high this year, but my property is still good. So I am excited about this.
Rose, who was second in the open air last summer, added: “I feel like I played enough to win this tournament (in the past). I just feel like I don’t have the jacket to prove it. I played a lot of good golf rounds here. In the end, you want to be the last man standing on Sunday. A little chance of lady here and there is always the difference here sometimes.
Rory McILroy was about to join the Four Under cohort, but succumbed to calamity with two double bogeys in his last four holes
McILroy showed a lot of promises but when he reached the last his hopes were bumpy
Rose started three times from the double champion Scottie Scheffler – who finished four under the end of the day
“You have to play golf course to continue to create these opportunities, and obviously, the only way to do so is to get your name in the ranking. I certainly do not go away.
For all the depth of quality in the ranking, a name has repercussions more than anything. It would be Scheffler, of which 68 gave the impression of a man playing safely in his margins.
The double winner was stable and sometimes brilliant, especially in the putts of drained monsters of 62 and 42 feet in the fourth and 16th holes. When resilience was necessary, he showed that with sand, backups on the seventh and 17th. No Bogey has done on his card, there will therefore be a certain apprehension in the field, especially since his recovery of hand surgery in December is obviously complete.
Scheffler, chasing his first title in 2025, said: “I felt pretty good. Whenever you can keep a clean card here, it’s a very good thing. I fought for two pars today, but other than that, I kept the ball in play and I did a lot of very good things.
Aaron Rai was another Englishman to enjoy an impressive first round in Augusta
With Hatton and Rose, a third Englishman made the top 10 – Aaron Rai, the number of people 20. He carded 70 to sit two sous, with the only regret of having crushed Amen Corner at the back of a shiny start. He was four years old, after having translated his imperative game of Tee-to-Green of the PGA Tour in his beginnings in master’s degree.
Alas, on each of the 11th, 12th and 13th holes that make up the most famous section of Augusta, he built. A birdie in the 17th allowed him to sign 70.
“This beginning was definitely beyond expectations,” he said. “I tried not to go too far on myself, but I knew there were difficult holes to come, especially around the median section of this tower. The course definitely called me on this central section.
Matt Fitzpatrick, whose shape has denounced in the past year, fired 71, like Shane Lowry.
McILroy, who was without imperfection through 14 holes on this last edition of his quest Augusta, refused to speak to the media after everything is so horribly badly on the section.
