Augusta, GA – Ah, how different a week is.
Seven days ago, while opening in Valero Texas' first round, Justin Rose hits a cold-blooded shank TPC San Antonio's fourth hole made him a double bogey six, and ultimately a 72 per round.
He wasn't close to doing something like that at Augusta National on Thursday.
Rose got a spectacular round and made eight birdies on his way to the 7-under 65. His only wound on the scorecard was to drive to the right of the fairway and run to the tree before finishing par 4 18th. But besides the selfish fire, Rose was dialed all day long.
“Today I chunked the golf course, the small mini targets, the mini targets. That's how I got closer to that day, and that's what I'll be tomorrow's approach and Saturday approach and Sunday approach,” Rose explained.
“So I'm going to try and be really clear. Try not to hit shots until I'm completely committed. These are things that we often say, and they're pretty boring to listen to and hear shots for shots, but in the end there's no other way. Hit the shot.”
Rose got on the board early and often.
He quickly made three straight par breakers out of the gate, making birdies on the first, second and third holes. On the famous white leaderboards around Augusta National, patrons saw Rose's name on the summit. Before his name stood above the others, it was barely lunchtime. Everyone realized that Rose was ready to fight again.
“I was clearly pleased to get off to such a great start, and it definitely came out of the gate. So, for the first few holes, everything was where I was looking and certainly one of the looming holes on the golf course, and I had to go down the 25 footer and knock on the right leaf and actually sink in three cases, three cases, three cases. I took me to my front paw and felt like I was playing a great golf,” explained Rose.
“I got a bit trouble early. No. 5 made a great putt for par, and I felt there was a moment in the middle of the back nine that changed momentum.
“It was a really good day golf on a golf course that was a tough test. Looking at the overall leaderboard, there weren't too low scores there, there were a lot of quality shots, which made me happy with the way I played.”
The British have two up finishes at the Masters. Both came within a three-year span in 2015 and 2017. In the first example, he lost to an invincible Jordans piece that won a wire-to-wire. Rose then lost to Sergio Garcia in the playoffs.
However, the 2013 US Open winner has four other top-10 finishes in Augusta in his career. Better yet, he now holds five first-round leads or joint leads. This is the best ever. However, the mark is scratched. Rose is lead or co-led after eight rounds at the Masters, using most of the players who have no wins.
His most recent time came in 2021 when he fired 65 during the opening round to control the championship. Rose then wasted the lead and shot 72-72-74 on the final 54 holes to finish his solo seventh.
“But this is not a pressure, it's a great opportunity for me,” Rose said.
“I'm looking at it all up now. I think my resume is nicely rounded. There are some big noticeable gaps. Obviously three major championships I've never won. Yes.”
Jack Mirco is a golf staff writer who plays SB Nation. Follow him with x @jack_milko.
