Quick Hit:

Day 1 of the 2025 Masters Tournament wrapped with England’s Justin Rose setting the pace at Augusta National, firing a stunning 7-under 65 to claim the solo lead. Rose’s bogey on 18 did little to mar a round that included eight birdies and five birdie streaks. Meanwhile, defending champion and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler posted a clean, bogey-free 68 to sit three shots back in a tie for second with rising Swedish star Ludvig Åberg and Canada’s Corey Conners.

Key Details:

• Justin Rose leads at 7-under after eight birdies and a lone bogey at the 18th hole.

• Scottie Scheffler finishes bogey-free at 4-under, tied with Åberg and Conners.

• Bryson DeChambeau and Tyrrell Hatton trail at 3-under, sharing fifth place after erratic but effective rounds.

Diving Deeper:

Justin Rose’s Precision-Paced Round

At 44 years old, Justin Rose delivered a masterclass in course management and ball striking, tying his career-low round at Augusta with a blistering 7-under 65. Rose opened the round with a statement—three straight birdies out of the gate—and followed up with another flurry on holes 8, 9, and 10. He capped it off with birdies at 15 and 16, before a wayward drive on 18 led to his only bogey of the day. Despite the slip, Rose holds a three-stroke lead and appears locked in. Though he’s held or shared the lead after Round 1 five times in Masters history, Rose has never closed the deal. His closest brushes came with T2 finishes in 2015 and 2017.

Scheffler’s Steady Title Defense

Scottie Scheffler, seeking a third green jacket after victories in 2022 and 2024, looked every bit the champion on Thursday. His bogey-free 4-under 68 came courtesy of crisp iron play and clutch putting, highlighted by a 62-foot birdie on No. 4 that sparked one of the loudest reactions of the day. The world No. 1 didn’t miss a beat, hitting 17 greens in regulation and avoiding all significant trouble. With this form, Scheffler is clearly poised to make a run over the weekend and defend his title with confidence.

Åberg’s Strong Start

Ludvig Åberg continued to justify the hype surrounding his meteoric rise. After a quiet front nine, the 24-year-old Swede went to work, rattling off four birdies on the back nine to close with a 68. A runner-up at last year’s Masters, Åberg’s demeanor and execution signal a maturity beyond his years. He now shares second place with Scheffler and Conners and will head into Friday’s round with a golden opportunity to establish himself as one of Augusta’s most consistent young threats.

LIV Golf’s DeChambeau Makes Noise

Bryson DeChambeau, the 2024 U.S. Open winner and one of the most polarizing players in the field, delivered a dramatic 3-under 69 that saw seven birdies and four bogeys. He was briefly tied for second after a birdie on 16 but dropped back following a bogey on 17. Despite the inconsistency, DeChambeau showed flashes of dominance—particularly with his power off the tee and recovery shots. He ends Day 1 tied for fifth with Tyrrell Hatton, the top two performers from the LIV Golf contingent.

McIlroy Falters Late, Again

It was a tale of two nines for Rory McIlroy, who reached 4-under through 14 holes and looked like a serious contender. But a double bogey on 15—after finding the water—and another on 17 derailed his momentum, leading to an even-par 72. The four-time major winner is still chasing his first green jacket and remains winless in majors since 2014. McIlroy, who has two wins on Tour this season, appeared mentally sharper early in the round but could not close the deal down the stretch. He enters Friday needing to recover fast.

Other Notables and Surprises

• Tyrrell Hatton, who reached 4-under through 13, slipped to 3-under after a bogey on 17 and settled for par on 18. Still, he sits well within reach of the leaders.

• Fred Couples, at 65, turned back the clock with a remarkable 1-under round, including an eagle on 14. He becomes the second-oldest player to shoot under par at the Masters.

• Jordan Spieth, Xander Schauffele, Hideki Matsuyama, and Tommy Fleetwood are part of a large group tied at 1-under.

• Amateur Noah Kent, once 2-under early in his round, faded hard to finish at +7, highlighting the challenge Augusta poses even to the most talented up-and-comers.

• Collin Morikawa briefly surged to -3 after an eagle on 13 but unraveled with three bogeys in the final four holes to finish even.

With a crowded leaderboard and top-tier names already making noise, the 2025 Masters is shaping up to deliver another unforgettable weekend at Augusta. Round 2 gets underway Friday afternoon as challengers aim to chase down Rose and shift the narrative before the cut.