AUGUSTA, Ga. — Oh, how totally different one week could be.
Seven days in the past, throughout the first spherical of the Valero Texas Open, Justin Rose hit a cold-blooded shank on the 4th gap at TPC San Antonio, resulting in a double-bogey six and finally an excellent par spherical of 72.
He got here nowhere near doing such a factor on Thursday at Augusta Nationwide.
Rose turned in a masterful spherical, making eight birdies en path to a 7-under 65. His solely blemish on the scorecard got here on the par-4 18th after he drove it proper of the golf green and into the bushes. However aside from that wayward hearth, Rose was dialed in all day.
“At this time I chunked the golf course in my thoughts, little mini targets, mini targets. And that’s the way in which I approached the day, and that’s going to be the strategy tomorrow and the strategy on Saturday and the strategy on Sunday,” Rose defined.
“So actually attempt to be clear on the market. Actually attempt to ensure I didn’t hit a shot till I used to be absolutely dedicated. These are the type of issues that we are saying usually, and they’re fairly boring to listen to, shot-for-shot, however finally there isn’t a different manner of doing. It’s how good you’re doing that within the second, and all of it comes right down to execution. I do know my manner round this golf course. I’ve a straight technique round right here. Yeah, it’s about making it rely and stepping up and hitting the pictures.”
Rose received on the board early and sometimes.
He made three straight par-breakers proper out of the gate, making birdies on the first, 2nd, and third holes. On these well-known white leaderboards throughout Augusta Nationwide, patrons noticed Rose’s identify vault to the highest. It was barely even lunchtime earlier than his identify stood above the remainder. Everybody realized that Rose was able to contend as soon as once more.
“Clearly delighted to get off to such an amazing begin, and that begin positively, it occurred out of the gates. So for the primary few holes all the things was going precisely the place I used to be wanting, and definitely the primary gap, which is certainly one of many trickier holes on the golf course, to knock in a pleasant 25-footer down the hill right-to-left, precisely what it is advisable settle your self into the Masters, after which 2 and three are birdie alternatives. So to be 3-under by 3 type of actually received me on the entrance foot and felt like I used to be taking part in nice golf,” Rose defined.
“I did discover myself in a little bit little bit of bother early. No. 5 holed an amazing putt for par, and center of the again 9, I felt like there have been a pair moments the place the momentum might change. However actually good up-and-downs on 14 and 15 to maintain the spherical actually sizzling. Solely blemish on 18, however no level dwelling on that.
“It was a extremely good day’s golf on a golf course that was a stern check. I feel in the event you take a look at the general leaderboard, not many low scores on the market. Numerous high quality pictures, and delighted the way in which I performed.”
The Englishman has two up finishes at The Masters, as each got here inside a three-year span in 2015 and 2017. Within the first occasion, he misplaced to an unbeatable Jordan Spieth, who gained wire-to-wire. Then, Rose misplaced to Sergio Garcia in a playoff.
However the 2013 U.S. Open winner has 4 different top-10 finishes at Augusta in his profession. Higher than that, he has held the first-round lead or co-lead 5 occasions now, which is probably the most all-time. But, that mark does include a blemish. Rose has led or co-led after eight rounds at The Masters, probably the most of any participant with no win.
His most up-to-date time doing so got here in 2021, when he fired a 65 throughout the opening spherical to take management of the championship. Then Rose squandered the lead away, capturing 72-72-74 over the ultimate 54 holes to complete solo seventh.
“It is a nice alternative, although, for me, not strain,” Rose mentioned.
“I see all of it as upside now. I feel my résumé is properly rounded out. There’s a couple of large obvious gaps. Clearly three main championships I haven’t gained. Perhaps a PLAYERS Championship as properly. So there’s tons of alternative to do issues I haven’t executed earlier than, however the main headlines are type of all in place for me. So I ought to use that as freedom to take these alternatives and use them to type of freewheel and use all of it as upside, yeah.”
Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Enjoying Via. Observe him on X@jack_milko.
