Justin Rose Surges to Early Masters Lead with Stellar 65 at Augusta National

AUGUSTA, Ga. – In a thrilling opening round at Augusta National, veteran English golfer Justin Rose stole the spotlight from the tournament’s heavyweights with a sensational 7-under-par 65 to take a three-shot lead at the 2025 Masters on Thursday.

Rose, 44, matched his career-best round at Augusta and became the first player in Masters history to lead or co-lead after the first round five times, surpassing Jack Nicklaus. While he has yet to don the coveted green jacket, his performance was a bold reminder that he remains a force to be reckoned with in major championship golf.

Rose’s Statement Round

Rose came out firing, opening with three straight birdies and adding three more around the turn. A pitch to 6 feet on the par-5 8th set up one of several flawless birdies, and a 20-foot putt on the par-3 16th punctuated an almost effortless display of precision and poise. He needed only 22 putts in the round.

Though a wayward tee shot on the final hole led to his only bogey of the day, Rose finished at 65 — nearly 10 strokes better than the field average of 73.6.

“I’m 44. Golf is not going to get easier in the next five or 10 years,” Rose said. “Your opportunities get fewer. You have to make the most of them.”

Scheffler and Conners Stay in the Hunt

Scottie Scheffler, the world No. 1 and 2022 Masters champion, stayed calm and composed with a bogey-free 68. He was joined at four-under by Corey Conners of Canada and Ludvig Åberg, the rising Swedish star and runner-up last year.

Scheffler, seeking his third green jacket in four years, kept himself firmly in contention with steady ball-striking and clinical putting.

McIlroy Falters Late

Hopes were high for Rory McIlroy, who is chasing a career Grand Slam, but late-round mistakes derailed his momentum. After playing solidly through much of the day, McIlroy found water behind the 15th green for a double bogey, followed by another double on the 17th after a three-putt. He settled for an even-par 72 — marking the seventh straight year he failed to break 70 in the opening round of the Masters.

LIV Players Make a Mark

Bryson DeChambeau and Tyrrell Hatton flew the flag for LIV Golf, each carding a 69. DeChambeau had seven birdies on the day, though it came with its share of ups and downs. “Making some bogeys probably freed me up a little,” he said. “Just go out and play some golf.”

Couples, Dunlap and Augusta Drama

Among the day’s memorable moments:

• Fred Couples, 65, shot a remarkable 71 — becoming only the second player that age to break par at Augusta, joining Tom Watson.
• Nick Dunlap, a 21-year-old PGA Tour winner, endured a brutal round, carding a 90 — the highest Masters score since 2015.
• Hideki Matsuyama saw a promising approach shot on the 13th hole strike the pin and carom into Rae’s Creek.
• Nicolai Højgaard experienced a rollercoaster round, with an eagle, five birdies, but also five bogeys and three doubles, finishing at 76.

Rose Eyes Redemption

Despite holding four previous first-round leads at Augusta, Rose has yet to convert any into victory. His best finish came in 2017, when he lost in a playoff to Sergio Garcia.

“I’ve played well enough to win this tournament,” said Rose. “I just don’t have the jacket to prove it. You’ve got to keep putting yourself in position. That’s what I’m doing.”

With his name once again atop the Masters leaderboard, Rose has positioned himself for another shot at Masters glory. But with a star-studded field in pursuit, the road to Sunday’s green jacket is just beginning.