The Masters: Justin Rose leads as Rory McIlroy has nightmare end to opening spherical at Augusta Nationwide

Justin Rose grabbed the early lead after the opening spherical of The Masters, as Rory McIlroy noticed his Grand Slam hopes undergo an enormous setback following a nightmare end at Augusta Nationwide.

Rose charged up the leaderboard with eight birdies in a surprising seven-under 65, along with his solely dropped shot coming on the remaining gap, giving the previous world No 1 a commanding three-shot benefit over Scottie Scheffer, Ludvig Åberg and Corey Conners.

Scheffler opened his title defence with a bogey-free 68 and Conners birdied three of the final 4 holes to additionally get to 4 beneath, with final yr’s runner-up Åberg making it a three-way tie for second after a final-hole birdie.

McIlroy – trying to find a primary main win since 2014 – was on the identical rating with 4 holes left of his opening spherical, solely to card two double-bogeys in a three-hole stretch – on the fifteenth and seventeenth – to stutter to a level-par 72.

The world No 2 is seven strokes again and out of doors the highest 25, the seventh yr in a row he has been six or extra behind following the opening day, with the Northern Irishman now going through an uphill battle to assert the victory required to finish the profession Grand Slam.

Rose leads as McIlroy messes up quick begin

Rose made the dream begin with three consecutive birdies and produced the same run from the par-five eighth to drag away from the sphere, with the Englishman then holing from 10 ft to make the most of the par-five fifteenth.

The 2-time Masters runner-up briefly went 4 clear after rolling in a long-range birdie on the par-three sixteenth, with Rose’s lone bogey coming when a wayward tee shot on the par-four final noticed him having to pitch out from the bushes.

Rose turns into the primary participant in Masters historical past to have a number of opening rounds of 65 or decrease, whereas it’s the fifth time he has held the lead or co-lead after the opening day at Augusta Nationwide – greater than some other participant.

Scheffler – bidding to turn into the primary back-to-back winner at The Masters since Tiger Woods – took benefit of the par-five second earlier than draining a exceptional 60-foot birdie on the par-three fourth.

An excellent pitch on the par-five eighth arrange a 12-foot birdie that noticed him attain the flip in 33, the identical complete because the opening day of his title defence in 2023, with Scheffler ending a run of pars and shifting to 4 beneath with one other long-range birdie on the par-three sixteenth.

US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau and fellow LIV Golf league participant Tyrrell Hatton share fifth place on three beneath, whereas Akshay Bhatia – who performed alongside McIlroy – sits an additional stroke again with Harris English, Jason Day and England’s Aaron Rai.

McIlroy reached the flip in three beneath – his greatest begin at Augusta Nationwide since 2011 – and took benefit of the par-five thirteenth to get inside three of Rose, solely to start out his plummet down the leaderboard with a double-bogey seven on the fifteenth.

The 35-year-old had gone lengthy of the inexperienced in two earlier than pitching again down the slope into the water, leaving him heading to the drop zone, earlier than falling additional behind when he racked up a three-putt double-bogey on the par-four seventeenth.

McIlroy’s closing par means he has now posted a sub-70 opening spherical simply twice in 17 appearances at Augusta Nationwide, with 18 of the final 19 Masters champions being inside 4 of the lead after the primary spherical.

Collin Morikawa additionally carded a level-par 72, with world No 3 Xander Schauffele and England’s Tommy Fleetwood among the many group an additional stroke behind, whereas Nick Dunlap propped up the leaderboard with an opening-round 90.

Rose and Scheffler inspired by begins

Justin Rose, chatting with Sky Sports activities: “I went out there with the mentality to try and be really clear, really patient, and I just ended up getting off to a flier!

“I bought up and working, so from that second I felt like I used to be on the entrance foot and taking part in the golf course properly. I started to develop lots of confidence and felt like there was a superb spherical in me. I simply bought unstuck at 18, however for probably the most half that was an excellent day.”

Scottie Scheffler: “I think anytime you get close to the lead, it’s going to be easier for you to win the golf tournament. That’s a simple fact of the matter. You get off to a good start, statistically you’re going to have a better chance to win the tournament.

“I feel round main championship golf programs, it is humorous as a result of this can be a golf course the place there’s lots of alternatives. There’s lots of alternative over the weekend. There’s lots of alternative on Sunday with the place they put the pins. I am a bit stunned that it is like that, however I would not say that it could possibly’t be performed.”

When is The Masters reside on Sky Sports activities?

Sky Sports activities Golf shall be exhibiting file hours of reside protection from the 2025 contest, together with extra motion over the ultimate two rounds than earlier years. Wall-to-wall protection continues on Friday from 2pm, with Featured Group motion and common updates till the worldwide broadcast window begins at 8pm.

A brand new addition to this yr’s protection sees a Masters build-up present reside from 3pm over the weekend forward of full protection beginning at 5pm, masking all of the motion till after the shut of play.

Sky+, Sky Q and Sky Glass will present loads of bonus feeds and can help you comply with gamers’ progress by means of varied elements of Augusta’s well-known format, together with Amen Nook and extra.

Who will win The Masters? Watch all through the week reside on Sky Sports activities. Stay protection of the second spherical begins with Featured Teams on Friday from 2pm on Sky Sports activities Golf. Get Sky Sports activities or stream with no contract on NOW.

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