Justin Rose Shines at The Masters as Rory McIlroy Falters on Opening Day
The opening round of The Masters 2025 at Augusta National delivered a fascinating start, with Justin Rose taking the lead while Rory McIlroy's hopes of completing a career Grand Slam were dashed by a disastrous finish. Rose, playing with confidence, fired a remarkable seven-under 65, thanks to eight birdies. His performance was nearly flawless, with the only blemish being a bogey on the last hole after finding trouble in the trees. This put him three strokes clear of the field, ahead of defending champion Scottie Scheffler, Ludvig Åberg, and Corey Conners, all of whom finished the day at four-under-par.
Rose's aggressive play on the course saw him charge through the early holes, especially with three consecutive birdies to start. He seemed to be in full control, gaining confidence as the round progressed. His lone mistake came at the final hole, but it didn’t take away from an otherwise stellar performance. The Englishman, at 44, showed he still has plenty of golf left in him, and his experience at Augusta could play a pivotal role as the tournament unfolds.
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Scheffler, the world No. 1 and reigning champion, also had an impressive day, posting a bogey-free 68. His round featured two remarkable long-range birdies, including a stunning 60-footer on the par-three 4th hole. Scheffler, who has been the dominant force in golf recently, looked calm and composed, continuing his excellent form from last year's Masters victory. Despite not leading, Scheffler's start to his title defense suggests he will be a serious contender heading into the weekend.
However, the story of the day was undoubtedly McIlroy’s collapse. The Northern Irishman, who was looking to claim his first major win since 2014, had a strong start, even reaching three-under-par with a birdie at the 13th. But disaster struck when he made a double-bogey at the par-5 15th after hitting his approach shot into the water. Things went from bad to worse when he made another double-bogey at the 17th, leaving him at even par for the day. McIlroy’s 72 puts him seven strokes off the lead, and he now faces an uphill battle to secure the victory he needs for the Grand Slam.
Despite McIlroy’s struggles, there are still plenty of potential challengers. Ludvig Åberg, last year’s runner-up, managed to stay in the hunt with a 68, and Corey Conners finished the day strong with three birdies in the last four holes. There was also some impressive play from Bryson DeChambeau and Tyrrell Hatton, who both carded solid rounds, with DeChambeau shooting a 69.
As the tournament continues, it’s clear that the leaderboard is packed with talent. Justin Rose’s commanding position gives him the early advantage, but with such a deep field, including last year’s champion Scheffler, anything can happen over the next few days. For McIlroy, it’s a tough setback, but with two more rounds to play, there’s still plenty of golf left to be played. The stage is set for an exciting second round, and all eyes will be on Augusta to see who can rise to the challenge.
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