Justin Rose kicked off the Masters in impressive fashion, breaking a record he once shared with golf legend Jack Nicklaus. Rose, with a remarkable 7-under 65 in the opening round, surged to a solid three-shot lead. This marks the fifth occasion where he has started with at least a share of the lead after the first round, a feat Jack Nicklaus achieved four times throughout his illustrious career.
While Nicklaus has claimed six green jackets, Rose is still in search of his first. He expressed confidence in his game, stating, “I feel like I’ve played well enough to win this tournament. I just feel like I don’t have the jacket to prove it.”
As the tournament moved into the second round, Rose faced slightly softer greens due to overnight rain, offering a prime chance to extend his lead, reminiscent of Jordan Spieth’s performance in 2015. He began the day positively, rolling in a birdie on the par-5 second hole, bringing his score to 8-under. Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy, who also teed off in the morning, struggled with his game, finishing with a 72 after a disappointing end to his round marked by two double bogeys.
Historically, starting strong is crucial at the Masters; only twice in the past two decades has a champion come from outside the top 10 after the first round. The last to do so was Tiger Woods in 2019, tied for 11th after day one.
As the second round ensued, many golfers were mindful of the 36-hole cut for the top 50 players and ties. Notable golfer Jon Rahm found himself on the outside looking in at the start of the round, aiming to make up some ground.
In addition, Bernhard Langer, a two-time Masters champion at 67 years old, was competing at Augusta National for what could be his final time. He was just inside the top 50, hoping to extend his illustrious Masters career through the weekend.
As the tournament progresses, eyes are on Rose to see if he can maintain his lead and turn his strong start into a long-awaited victory.
