THE 85TH MASTERS

The exception: Rose alone in mastering Augusta

Justin Rose of England shot a 7-under 65 in Thursday’s opening round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club and holds a fourshot lead. Rose made an eagle and seven birdies over a 10-hole stretch. More photos available at arkansasonline.com/49masters.
(AP/Charlie Riedel)
Justin Rose of England shot a 7-under 65 in Thursday’s opening round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club and holds a fourshot lead. Rose made an eagle and seven birdies over a 10-hole stretch. More photos available at arkansasonline.com/49masters. (AP/Charlie Riedel)

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Even before the Masters began, it was obvious Augusta National in April was nothing like it was in November. Far less clear was which course Justin Rose was playing Thursday.

Rose made seven birdies and an eagle during a torrid 10-hole stretch for a 7-under 65 and a four-shot lead, his lowest score at Augusta National in one of its toughest opening rounds.

It started with a nice hop off the mounds left of the green on the par-5 eighth that set up a 10-foot eagle. Only two of his birdie putts were outside 8 feet. He holed a 12-foot par putt on the one green he missed. Not bad for a 40-year-old from England playing for the first time in a month while resting an ailing back.

His 65 looked even better on a day so tough only 12 players broke par, and the average score was 74.5.

"Listen, I didn't know where my game was going into this week," Rose said. "I've been working hard. I could have played the last two tournaments, but I was really trying to prepare hard for this Masters."

Twice a runner-up, including a playoff loss to Sergio Garcia four years ago, Rose tied a Masters record by taking at least a share of first-round lead for the fourth time. The other to do that was Jack Nicklaus. The difference? Nicklaus went on to win two of his six green jackets from that position.

[Gallery not loading above? Click here for more photos » arkansasonline.com/49masters/]

Rose likes to say he's only had one arm in the jacket.

Brian Harman, the last player to get into the 88-man field, and Hideki Matsuyama were wrapping up their rounds of 69 about the time Rose began on a course that was dry and crusty, on greens that were so fast there were splotches of brown.

Among those at 70 were former Masters champion Patrick Reed and Masters newcomer Will Zalatoris. Jordan Spieth overcame a triple bogey from the trees on No. 9 for a 71.

Missing were a slew of red numbers on the leaderboard in conditions so difficult that Garcia said after a 76, "I feel like I just came out of the ring with Evander Holyfield."

Five months ago, in the first Masters held in November because of the covid-19 pandemic, the turf was so soft that 53 players were under par after the opening round.

British Open champion Shane Lowry chipped from the back of the 15th green into the water in front of the green. He escaped with bogey and managed a 71. U.S. Amateur champion Tyler Strafaci hit a 60-foot putt from behind the ninth green that wound up 75 feet away on the other side.

Defending champion Dustin Johnson, who set the record last year at 20-under 268, failed to break par for the first time since the opening round in 2018. He three-putted for double bogey on the 18th for a 74.

"I feel sorry for the guys' first Masters in November, and then they're walking out there today wondering what the hell is going on," Kevin Kisner said after a hard-earned 72.

This was no surprise. Augusta National has not had rain in more than a week, and players could not recall the last time greens were this fast during practice rounds, much less with a scorecard in hand on Thursday.

"It's my 10th year, but I've never seen the greens so firm and fast," Matsuyama said. "So it was like a new course for me playing today, and I was fortunate to get it around well."

And what to say of Rose? Even in more forgiving conditions, he had never done better than 67.

"I didn't feel like today was the day for a 65, if I'm honest," Rose said.

No one needed convincing, least of all Bryson DeChambeau and Rory McIlroy, among top players who struggled with the wind and had just as many problems when the ball was on the ground.

DeChambeau, the U.S. Open champion who has been licking his chops about bringing his super-sized game to Augusta National, didn't make a birdie until the 15th hole and shot 76, his highest score as a pro at the Masters. Patrick Cantlay hit into the water on both par 3s on the back nine and shot 79.

"Guys are going to shoot themselves out of the golf tournament on day one," Webb Simpson said after a late double bogey forced him to settle for a 70.

McIlroy, needing a green jacket to complete the career Grand Slam, hit his father with a shot on the seventh hole. That was about the most interesting moment in his round of 76. Lee Westwood, who had a pair of runner-up finishes in the Florida Swing, had a 78.

Rose looked as though he might be headed that direction. He made a soft bogey on No. 1. He three-putted across the green on No. 7. He was 2 over, though not ready to panic. He knew it was tough. He also knew he was headed in the wrong direction.

"You can't win the golf tournament today. Even with a 65 you can't win it today," Rose said. "You can only probably lose it today, obviously. I reset just prior to that and thought if I can get myself back around even par, that would be a good day's work."

He hit 5-wood into 10 feet for eagle and a 9-iron to the dangerous left pin on No. 9 to 4 feet for birdie. He holed a 25-foot putt on the 10th and hit 8-iron to 6 feet on No. 12. It never stopped. Even from the first cut of rough on the 17th, his wedge settled 4 feet from the hole.

He finished going over the details of that incredible stretch, smiled and said, "Sounds easy."

It looked that way. But only for him.

Leaderboard

THE MASTERS

At Augusta (Ga.) National Golf Club

Purse: $11.5 million

Par 72, 7,475 yards

First of four rounds

Justin Rose;35-30--65

Brian Harman;36-33--69

Hideki Matsuyama;33-36--69

Will Zalatoris;36-34--70

Webb Simpson;34-36--70

Christian Bezuidenhout;33-37--70

Patrick Reed;34-36--70

American Jordan Spieth hits from a bunker on the second hole Thursday. Spieth fired a 1-under 71 during the opening round.
(AP/Gregory Bull)
American Jordan Spieth hits from a bunker on the second hole Thursday. Spieth fired a 1-under 71 during the opening round. (AP/Gregory Bull)
Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama (left) walks to the 10th green during Thursday’s first round of the Masters in Augusta, Ga. Matsuyama shot a 3-under 69 and is tied for second place with Brian Harman, four strokes behind leader Justin Rose. More photos at arkansasonline.com/49masters/.
(AP/David J. Phillip)
Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama (left) walks to the 10th green during Thursday’s first round of the Masters in Augusta, Ga. Matsuyama shot a 3-under 69 and is tied for second place with Brian Harman, four strokes behind leader Justin Rose. More photos at arkansasonline.com/49masters/. (AP/David J. Phillip)
Justin Rose reacts to his birdie shot on the seventeenth hole during the first round of the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club, Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta, Ga. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
Justin Rose reacts to his birdie shot on the seventeenth hole during the first round of the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club, Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta, Ga. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
Bryson DeChambeau yawns as he waits to putt on the 16th hole during the first round of the Masters golf tournament on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Bryson DeChambeau yawns as he waits to putt on the 16th hole during the first round of the Masters golf tournament on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Justin Rose, of England, reacts to missing a birdie putt on the 11th hole during the first round of the Masters golf tournament on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Justin Rose, of England, reacts to missing a birdie putt on the 11th hole during the first round of the Masters golf tournament on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Hudson Swafford flips his putter as he reacts to missing his birdie putt on the ninth hole during the first round of the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club, Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta, Ga. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
Hudson Swafford flips his putter as he reacts to missing his birdie putt on the ninth hole during the first round of the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club, Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta, Ga. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
Justin Rose, of England, tees off on the 12th hole during the first round of the Masters golf tournament on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Justin Rose, of England, tees off on the 12th hole during the first round of the Masters golf tournament on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Hedeki Matsuyama dashes up to the 13th green after hitting out of the tributary to Raes Creek on his way to a birdie during the first round of the Masters golf tournament Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta, Ga. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
Hedeki Matsuyama dashes up to the 13th green after hitting out of the tributary to Raes Creek on his way to a birdie during the first round of the Masters golf tournament Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta, Ga. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
Dustin Johnson hits on the first fairway during the first round of the Masters golf tournament on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Dustin Johnson hits on the first fairway during the first round of the Masters golf tournament on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Jordan Spieth watches his drive on the 14th tee during the first round of the Masters golf tournament on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Jordan Spieth watches his drive on the 14th tee during the first round of the Masters golf tournament on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Upcoming Events