The 89th Masters Tournament commenced with an electrifying atmosphere at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday, as English golfer Justin Rose claimed the top spot on the leaderboard. This prestigious event, known as the first major of the year, began with a ceremonial tee shot from golf legends Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, and Tom Watson. After this memorable opening, 95 players embarked on their quest for the coveted green jacket.
At 44 years old, Rose put himself in a prime position to secure his second career major victory, finishing the first round with a remarkable score of 7-under 65. This performance marked the fifth time he led the Masters after the first round. With this impressive start, Rose sits three shots ahead of world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, Ludvig Åberg, and Corey Conners. Despite not having won the tournament previously, Rose's confidence remains high. He has finished in second place in 2015 and 2017, and he believes he has what it takes to win the title.
“I feel like I’ve played well enough to win this tournament,” Rose stated after his round. “I just feel like I don’t have the jacket to prove it.” With numerous solid rounds at Augusta under his belt, Rose has accumulated several accolades, including crystal awards for outstanding play. He emphasized the importance of maintaining his position on the leaderboard, stating, “You’ve got to be playing the golf to keep creating those opportunities.”
Two-time Masters champion Scottie Scheffler entered the tournament as the favorite and demonstrated why with a flawless performance, posting a bogey-free 68. This score positions him well within striking distance of the lead as the tournament progresses. Scheffler aims to join an elite group of players who have won three Masters titles and hopes to be the first since Tiger Woods in 2002 to defend his green jacket.
“I had a feeling the golf course was going to get pretty firm,” Scheffler explained. “There’s definitely some challenge to the golf course today, and I’m sure that’ll continue as the week goes on.” He will tee off on Friday at 1:23 p.m. ET.
World No. 2 Rory McIlroy had a tumultuous day on the course, starting as a strong contender for his first green jacket before struggling towards the end of his round. After a brilliant start with a 4-under par score through 14 holes, McIlroy faltered, recording two double bogeys in the final holes. He finished the day with a score of 72, dropping from second to 27th place.
Following his round, McIlroy declined to speak with reporters, but he is determined to rebound in his next outing, scheduled for 9:58 a.m. ET on Friday.
It was a challenging day for young golfers Nick Dunlap and Jose Luis Ballester, who faced unique struggles during their rounds. Dunlap, a 21-year-old American and a participant in his second Masters, posted a historic score of 18-over 90, placing him in last position. This score marks the worst performance by a player under 38 at the Masters since 2015.
Meanwhile, Ballester, another 21-year-old and last year's US Amateur champion, found himself in an unusual situation on the course. While playing alongside Scottie Scheffler and Justin Thomas, he humorously admitted to relieving himself in Rae’s Creek after forgetting the location of nearby bathrooms. “It was not embarrassing at all for me. If I had to do it again, I would do it again,” Ballester remarked, finding humor in the unexpected moment.
Dunlap is scheduled to tee off at 12:50 p.m. ET, while Ballester will begin his round at 1:23 p.m. ET.
