Justin Rose used a red-hot putter to win a three-shot lead over the trio of the trio defending Masters champion Scotty Schaeffler at Augusta National.
Rose was runner-up in the first major of the year, and needed just 22 putts on his way to a 7-under putt 65, which rivals the British’s best start.
It is also the fifth time Rose has won a first-round lead or co-lead at the Masters, allowing him to surpass Great Jack Nicklaus for most of the tournament history.
“It was a really good day of golf on a golf course that was a tough test. Looking at the entire leaderboard, there wasn’t a very low score there,” Rose told reporters. “There are a lot of high quality shots and I’m happy with the way I played.”
This week, world number one Schaeffler, who is about to become the fourth golfer to keep the Masters Crown, came in second with Rudy Abarg, who complies with 2024 and Corey Connors of Canada.
Going out with the late starter, Rose, 44, wasted no time as he kicked off the round with three consecutive birdies and added three more during the turn before 15 and 16 consecutive birdies.
The only scar on Rose’s card, becoming the first Masters champion to win here since 41-year-old Mark O’Miara won in 1998, came on the 18th when the tee shot made a bogey after missing the fairway.
Schaeffler’s round included a massive birdie putt from 62 feet in a par-3 seat, and a pair of up and down par saves after removing a vibrant chip from the greenside bunker on both the seventh and 17 holes.
“Whenever I can keep my cards clean here, that’s really good… I struggled with what I felt like two pars today,” Schaeffler said.
“I had to make two really good ups and downs. But aside from that, the golf course was in front of me most days, playing the ball and doing a lot of really good things out there.”
With that long putt on the fourth hole for 240 yards, Schaeffler made at least one birdie on all 18 holes at Augusta National during his career.
McIlroy stumbles at the start of a Grand Slam search
The Connors moved late with birdies on three of the last four holes, but Sweden played for the second master and got caught up in a contest with four back nine birdies.
This week, fan favorite Bryson Dechambeau, two-time major winner and one of 12 LIV golfers on a 95-player field, was second-place share until the late Bogey dropped him to fifth-place share and four-round Rose.
McIlroy, the world’s second-largest McIlroy, who needs a Masters victory to complete a career grand slam, appears to be hampered by one poor round each week at the Masters, was behind Rose three behind him before an overwhelming double bogey at the Reachable Par Five 15.
The Northern Irish watched everything change on the 15th, his approach sailing over the greenery, then helplessly as his tips rolled from the smooth putting surface into the pond.
McIlroy joined the Masters in two PGA Tour titles in his career before April, double bogging the 17 after missing the green from 28 feet as a popular pick to win his first green jacket.
The four major winner settled on an even par 72, leaving him with plenty of work this week if he wanted to be the sixth player to complete a career grand slam in golf.
For McIlroy, who is in the 27th share, it was Mark who has marked multiple double bogeys in the round at the Masters since the second round of the 2014 edition.
Among other celebrities, 2023 Masters champion John Rahm struggled in 75 over 75, while Zander Shaufele called for his third win in four majors, following his victory at the PGA Championship and British Open last year, opening at 73.
Former champion and fan favorite Fred Couple started the 40th Masters and made a card with a 1-under 71 highlighted by Eagle from 191 yards in 14th.
The 65-year-old couple not only finished their first round with a 11th share, but also won the second oldest Perlett in the round at Augusta National.
“I’m happy as a clam today,” the couple said.