The 2025 Masters Tournament kicked off in spectacular fashion at Augusta National Golf Club, and Englishman Justin Rose made a stunning statement with a blistering opening round. His career-low 7-under 65 placed him three shots clear of the competition, as he closed the first day of action atop the leaderboard.
A Stellar Start for Rose
Rose, 44, set the tone for what could be his second career major title after a sensational round that saw him tie his best opening round at the Masters. With this performance, he became the leader after Round 1 for the fifth time in his career.
“It feels like I’ve played well enough to win this tournament,” Rose said after his round. “I just feel like I don’t have the jacket to prove it… ultimately, you want to be the last man standing on Sunday.”
Although Rose has yet to don the green jacket at Augusta, his confidence remains strong. He has had several near-misses, finishing second in 2015 and 2017, but he has always believed in his potential to win at this iconic course.
In reflecting on past performances, Rose added, “I’ve played a lot of good rounds of golf here. Got a lot of crystal, which is obviously always nice. But you’ve got to be playing the golf to keep creating those opportunities.”
As the tournament progresses, Rose will look to capitalize on his lead and continue his pursuit of the elusive Masters victory.
Scottie Scheffler Stays Within Striking Distance
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, the betting favorite for the 2025 Masters, didn’t let the early excitement phase him. The 28-year-old American finished with a bogey-free 68, putting him in prime position just three strokes behind Rose. Scheffler, already a two-time Masters champion, is aiming for his third green jacket and has the chance to become the first player since Tiger Woods to defend his title.
“I had a feeling the golf course was going to get pretty firm,” Scheffler remarked after his round. “There’s definitely some challenge to the golf course today, and I’m sure that’ll continue as the week goes on.”
Scheffler’s steady play sets the stage for a thrilling weekend at Augusta. As he looks to make history with a third Masters win, he remains one of the most formidable contenders.
Rory McIlroy’s Rollercoaster Round
It was a rollercoaster day for world No. 2 Rory McIlroy, who seemed poised to contend early on but faltered down the stretch. McIlroy, who had been playing some of his best golf of the season, began the round with a solid 4-under par through 14 holes. However, a couple of late double bogeys sent him tumbling down the leaderboard to a 72, putting him in 27th place heading into Friday’s action.
The Northern Irishman, who has already won twice this season, was visibly disappointed and declined to speak to reporters following his round. With his sights set on completing a career Grand Slam, McIlroy will need a big rebound in Friday’s round if he hopes to keep his Masters dreams alive.
Struggles for Dunlap and Ballester
It was a day to forget for two young players, as Nick Dunlap and José Luis Ballester faced challenging circumstances. Dunlap, 21, had a historic but painful round, posting an 18-over 90. This dismal score marked the worst round at the Masters since Ben Crenshaw’s 91 in 2015. As the first player under 38 to fail to break 90, Dunlap’s day was one he’ll likely want to forget.
The Arizona State University senior, who is in his second Masters appearance, didn’t offer any comments after his round.
Meanwhile, Spanish amateur José Luis Ballester, who had a much lighter moment on the course, made headlines for an unorthodox reason. While playing alongside stars Scottie Scheffler and Justin Thomas, Ballester found himself in an unfortunate but humorous situation near Rae’s Creek. Forgetting there were bathrooms nearby, Ballester took matters into his own hands and relieved himself in the creek, much to the delight of spectators.
“Didn’t really know where to go, and since (Justin Thomas) had an issue on the green, I’m like, I’m just going to sneak here in the river,” Ballester recalled with a laugh. “Probably one of the claps that I really got today real loud, so that was kind of funny.”
Despite the momentary awkwardness, Ballester took it in stride. “If I had to do it again, I would do it again,” he added, making light of the situation.
As for the rest of the tournament, both players have a long road ahead if they want to make an impact at Augusta, with Dunlap teeing off at 12:50 p.m. ET and Ballester following at 1:23 p.m. ET on Friday.
As the Masters Tournament heads into its second round, all eyes will be on Justin Rose to see if he can maintain his lead. Scheffler, who sits just three shots behind, is always a threat, and with the potential for some unpredictable twists, this year’s tournament is shaping up to be one of the most exciting in recent memory.
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