A golden hour flush of brilliance from Justin Rose crowned a crisp Thursday at Augusta National, where the 44-year-old Englishman turned back the clock with a flawless 7-under 65 to seize a commanding three-shot lead after Round 1 of the 2025 Masters Tournament.
Matching his career-low score at Augusta, Rose looked completely at ease beneath the Georgia pines, firing a front-nine 31 that included five birdies and zero blemishes. It was vintage stuff from the 2013 U.S. Open champ, making his 20th appearance at the Masters and reminding the golf world that experience and touch still have a place among the power game of today.
With his fifth career first-round lead/co-lead at Augusta, Rose now surpasses Jack Nicklaus in that stat—no small feat. But recent history warns that Thursday success hasn’t been a ticket to Sunday green. In fact, no first-round leader on the PGA TOUR has gone on to win this season through 15 stroke play events.
Scheffler in Cruise Control, Åberg Shines Again
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler played with the quiet dominance that’s become his trademark, carding a bogey-free 68. He made his first-ever birdie on the fourth hole at Augusta in 21 tries, ticking off the final box to now have birdied every hole at the Masters. Tied for second at 4-under, Scheffler once again looks unflappable.
Sweden’s Ludvig Åberg joined Scheffler and Canada’s Corey Conners at 68. Åberg, the breakout star of 2024, continues to impress at Augusta. He’s now a combined 11-under through his first five career rounds at the Masters—a pace bested only by Jordan Spieth in tournament history.
Conners’ tidy 68 marks his first-ever sub-70 opening round at Augusta in eight tries. Making his 200th career PGA TOUR start, the Canadian seems quietly poised for a weekend run.
Day, Lee, Im Lead the APAC Pack
Australia’s Jason Day, a Masters mainstay, opened with a 70 (-2), placing himself T7 and right in the mix. Min Woo Lee and Sungjae Im both signed for 71s (-1), showing solid form and sitting T11 heading into Friday. Lee, riding the high of his recent breakthrough PGA TOUR win in Houston, continued to show maturity and mental toughness in his debut as a TOUR winner at a major.
Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, Korea’s Tom Kim, and amateur Hiroshi Tai each posted 73s (+1). Matsuyama, the 2021 Masters champion, showed flashes of brilliance but will need to sharpen his short game if he’s to mount a challenge this week.
Couples' Moment of Magic, Rory’s Late Stumble
Fred Couples stole hearts (again) with a sensational hole-out eagle from 191 yards on the 14th—his first eagle on a par-4 in his 40 Masters appearances. At 65 years old, Couples becomes the second-oldest player to break par at Augusta, doing so with flair.
Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy looked sharp early before unraveling late with double bogeys at 15 and 17. His even-par 72 leaves him T27, and still chasing the elusive career Grand Slam.
Other notables
Bryson DeChambeau, fresh off a U.S. Open win, quietly opened with 69 (-3), joining Tyrrell Hatton in T5..... Nick Dunlap’s 90 was the highest single-round score on TOUR since 2024, a reminder of how brutal Augusta can be even in perfect weather....With the wind projected to pick up over the weekend, expect Augusta to show more teeth in the coming rounds.
