Scotty Scheffler It was expected to be close to the top of the Masters Leaderboard after the first round at Augusta National Golf Club.
But it was Justin Rose, the British performing inside him. The 20th Masterafter posting a miraculous first round on Thursday, he walked the 2024 winner to the clubhouse with a 7-under three-stroke lead.
Rose won the only big victory at the US Open in 2013, matching the best round ever at Augusta National.
For sports coverage on foxnews.com, click here
Justin Rose responds with the 18th green in the first round of the Masters. (Michael Madrid/Image Image)
The 44-year-old ran to a 3-under start after him. I birded the first three holes. After doing the same in holes 8 and 9, he finished the first nine at 5 under. He birded 10 before returning to Earth with 10 straight pars, then found an even red mark in holes 15 and 16 to sit at 8 under.
Rose flirted in the best opening round in Greg Norman’s 9-under in 1996.
But he was all smiles after his amazing start. His best finishes at the Masters came when he came in second in 2015 and 2017, respectively, and in second place.
Sergio Garcia goes viral for his first round outfit at Masters
Scotty right behind
This week there were some questions about how Schaeffler will take the fare in Augusta. And he admitted that he still had an impact on his play a few weeks before the tournament.
However, he set himself up for a good week to shoot 4 under and defend the 2024 Masters title.
And some plays accompanied it when he drained a 60-foot birdie on a par-3 force hole. He also knocked down a long putt to par 3 16th place, his final birdie in the bogeyless round to start the tournament.
But he is not the only person in Rose’s three strokes in a 4-under clubhouse. Canada’s Corey Connors has been selected as a Dark Horse contender to win this week, birding three of the last four holes to head to 4 under on Friday.
Finally, Swedish Rudig Åberg, who finished second in the Masters behind Schaeffler last year, had a strong second nine with four birdies tied second at 4 under.
Scotty Schaeffler walks No. 5 tee in the first round of the Masters. (Kyle Terada/Imagn image)
Reckless Lori
It seemed like Rose could have had a very close company, if not a lead tie, as Rory McIlroy was cruised in his opening round while searching for that elusive career grand slam. He needs the Master’s victory to complete it.
He looked good at 4 under 14 holes after, but the costly error of the par-5 15 days derailed what would be a sparkly start to the tournament.
A beautiful drive started the hole, but after the second shot passed through the green, McIlroy had to chip down to the hole. It was a similar situation that Patrick Cantray faced in the first half of Thursday, with both attempts tumbling from green to water below due to the tragic events.
McIlroy’s tip got a fierce second bounce and saw his ball roll into the water. Instead of going back to the same place like Cantlay, he had to choose a drop zone and then tip the tip again after quickly bouncing off the green. McIlroy finished with a double bogey and fell to 2 under the day, but it got worse from there.
He managed to par number 16, but found trouble again with a double bogey at 17, falling evenly in the round. That’s where McIlroy ended and it’s not awful at all.
But after a great start to the day, McIlroy will need to build momentum again on Friday, not riding high from Thursday, particularly with all his expectations of him entering the week after two wins.
Rory McIlroy will be off the 13th green in the first round of the Masters. (Katie Goodale/Imagn Images)
Ageless couple
The 65-year-old is tied within Augusta National’s top 10, and is nothing more than the 1992 Masters champion Fred Couples.
It was a round of Masters’ record books. It’s been 42 years since he first defeated Parr at Augusta National in 1983. The longest gap before that was Jack Nicklaus, who first beat Parr in the last 1960 of 2000.
Tom Watson also spent 40 years between his first and last, with both him and Nicklaus being the starters of honor on Thursday.
The couple has exhausted the Eagle from the fairway as they made hole 14 on a hybrid of just under 200 yards, with an unprecedented sweet swing from the right. His neon yellow balls pounded the green green perfectly, which quickly changed the couple’s tide.
Couples usually aim to cut each year so they can play on weekends. This was the beginning to give him the opportunity.
Justin played rose tee on No. 5 in the first round of the Masters. (Grace Smith/Image Image)
Click here to get the Fox News app
Leaderboard
This is the top 10 Masters Leaderboard after Round 1.
1. Justin Rose: -7
T2. Corey Connors: -4
T2. Scotty Scheffler:-4
T2. LudvigÅberg:-4
T5. Tyrell Hutton: -3
T5. Bryson Deccanbeau: -3
T7. Aaron Lye: -2
T7. Harris English: -2
T7. Jason Day:-2
T7. Akshay Bhatia:-2
Follow Fox News Digital’s x Sports Coverageand subscribe Fox News Sports Huddle Newsletter.
