AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) – Justin Rose remains competitive at the Masters tournament, a year after narrowly losing in a playoff to Rory McIlroy.
Despite not leading, Rose’s performance keeps him in the mix as he trails the leaders.
After finishing the first round with a score of 70, Rose sits three shots behind early leader Sam Burns and McIlroy. While he has a history of leading at Augusta National, Rose’s late bogeys in the round may serve him well this time as he competes against a field filled with notable players.
Challenging Conditions
Rose’s position is complicated by a strong group of competitors, including former Masters champion Patrick Reed, Jason Day, and Kurt Kitayama, all at 3 under par. Rose, along with Scottie Scheffler, Shane Lowry, and Xander Schauffele, finds himself just one stroke behind this group.
Player Insights
“Every hole you’re just being patient through experience,” Rose remarked, emphasizing the importance of remaining composed. He noted that managing to score pars and successfully navigating the challenging Amen Corner is crucial. “Every little mini-victory you had out there was worth celebrating,” he added.
Players who started earlier in the day generally posted better scores, benefiting from softer greens and less wind. As the day progressed, conditions deteriorated, leading to more difficult play.
Strategic Adjustments
Schauffele, facing the challenging conditions, expressed a need to adjust his strategy for the next round. “Potentially attack less, to be honest,” he said, suggesting a more conservative approach might yield better results in the tough conditions.
Both Rose and Scheffler had strong starts, with Rose achieving early birdies and Scheffler scoring an eagle. However, as the course conditions worsened, both players struggled to maintain their momentum, with Scheffler’s streak of sub-70 rounds at the Masters coming to an end.
Looking Ahead
Despite the challenges faced during the first round, Scheffler expressed confidence in his game. “I feel like I played really solid,” he stated, acknowledging some missed opportunities but feeling positive about his overall performance. He also noted the increasing difficulty of the course as the day progressed.
With 54 holes remaining, both Rose and Scheffler remain in contention, ready to tackle the upcoming rounds at Augusta National.