Justin Rose grabs first-round Masters lead, Scottie Scheffler three back

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Justin Rose was in the zone.

Augusta National was his personal playground.

He was in a familiar place at the Masters — in contention early in the tournament.

Now, if he can just bottle what he does in the opening rounds and apply it to the next three rounds, Rose, at age 44, will be a be a two-time major winner and a first-time green jacket winner.

Rose opened the 89th Masters with a sterling 7-under-par 65 Thursday to take a three-shot lead over defending champion Scottie Scheffler, Canadian Corey Conners and last year’s runner-up, Ludvig Åberg.

Tyrrell Hatton and Bryson DeChambeau are four back at 3-under.

The day was about Rose and his sparkling round.

“It was such a fun day out there,’’ Rose said. “I had the energy going, I had the feel going. Everything was going my way. I was navigating the tough holes very well.’’

The round actually looked like it would even better, with Rose 8-under par through 16 holes. But he scrambled for par on 17 and a poor tee shot on 18 led to his only bogey of the round.

“When I buried the birdie putt on 16, I felt on the front foot and thought 17 and 18 were gettable, but two poor tee shots,’’ Rose said. “It was still a great day.’’

For Rose, it was the fifth time in his Masters career that he’s had at least a share of the lead after the first round, which ties Jack Nicklaus’ record.

He led in 2004 and finished tied for 22nd. He shared the lead in 2007 and finished tied for fifth. He shared the lead in 2008 and finished tied for 36th. He had the sole lead in 2021 and finished seventh.

This marked the ninth time Rose has led a round at the Masters, which is the most by any player in tournament history who hasn’t won a green jacket.

The 65 tied Rose’s lowest round at the Masters, which was his opening round in 2021.

“You never know on first tee that you’re going to come out and play great,’’ Rose said. “I was definitely looking forward and looking to do something special today. I’ve played a lot of golf here at Augusta National, so to come away with my equal best score is certainly an achievement for me.

“To be 3-under through three [holes] really got me on the front foot and I felt like I was playing great golf.’’

Rose finished runner-up to Jordan Spieth in 2015 and lost to Sergio Garcia in a playoff in 2017.

“I feel like I’ve played well enough to win this tournament,’’ Rose said. “I don’t have the jacket to prove it. I’ve obviously played a lot of good rounds of golf here. Ultimately, you want to be last man standing on Sunday.’’

DeChambeau and Åberg made back-nine charges to get to within the three shots. Åberg shot 4-under on the back nine.

“I’m proud of the way I finished,’’ Åberg said. “At this place, experience goes a long way, and I felt like we played a very disciplined round of golf today.’’

Åberg, who finished runner-up to Scheffler last year in his first career major championship start, termed Rose’s round as “actually ridiculous’’ in how good it was.

“We were walking down, I can’t remember what hole it was, and he got it to 8-under at some point, which we were like, ‘That’s pretty impressive,’ ’’ he said. “I haven’t seen any of his shots or putts, but I would imagine he’s pretty pleased with that.’’

Rose, the 2013 U.S. Open champion, keeps on putting himself in contention in the biggest tournaments.

“That’s what’s inspiring me to keep playing, keep practicing, keep working hard and making the sacrifices being away from the family … playing well at major championships and that dream I can still win one of these things, a couple of these … or more than a couple,’’ Rose said. “I still feel like I can. When I come out here, I prepare for these moments.’’