Justin Rose stormed to a commanding four-stroke lead at the Masters on Thursday, scoring an impressive nine-under 65, which included seven birdies and an eagle. Although Rose trailed by two strokes after seven holes, he managed to recover, reset and finish the round strongly, even without hitting top form.
Rose was one of only three players, alongside Brian Harman and Hideki Matsuyama, to break par, in a stark contrast to the 24 players who managed it in the previous year's event under favorable conditions. The Brit, who is a two-time Masters runner-up, now shares a Masters opening-round lead record with Jack Nicklaus.
Meanwhile, there were struggles for some top contenders. Defending champion Dustin Johnsoncarded a two-over 74, while 2021 US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau struggled to a four-over 76, as did Rory McIlroy, whose hopes of completing a career Grand Slam with a Masters victory got off to a rocky start.
McIlroy and DeChambeau ended the day tied, while rising star Cameron Smith also managed a respectable three-under 69. Patrick Reed, the 2018 Masters winner, finished at two-under, with world No. 2 Justin Thomas and Jon Rahm both carding one-over scores.
It was a challenging day for some, with world No. 1 Johnson facing a series of setbacks, including a wayward drive on the seventh hole that hit his father. DeChambeau, with high expectations, struggled to find fairways, contributing to his higher-than-expected score.
While the lead was a considerable advantage, Justin Rose was mindful of the tournament's reputation for unpredictability. "I know two behind seven isn't the end of the world," he said, "but you know you're going the wrong way."
With the unpredictable nature of the tournament, anything could happen on the proceedings' second day, and the 40-year-old Rose was eager to maintain his momentum while also acknowledging the challenging conditions that awaited him.
