The Masters: Justin Rose leads as Rory McIlroy has...

Justin Rose grabbed the early lead after the opening spherical of The Masters, as Rory McIlroy noticed his Grand Slam hopes endure a giant setback following a nightmare end at Augusta Nationwide.

Rose charged up the leaderboard with eight birdies in a shocking seven-under 65, along with his solely dropped shot coming on the remaining gap, giving the previous world No 1 a commanding three-shot benefit over Scottie Scheffer, Ludvig Åberg and Corey Conners.

Scheffler opened his title defence with a bogey-free 68 and Conners birdied three of the final 4 holes to additionally get to 4 underneath, with final yr’s runner-up Åberg making it a three-way tie for second after a final-hole birdie.

McIlroy – trying to find a primary main win since 2014 – was on the identical rating with 4 holes left of his opening spherical, solely to card two double-bogeys in a three-hole stretch – on the fifteenth and seventeenth – to stutter to a level-par 72.

The world No 2 is seven strokes again and out of doors the highest 25, the seventh yr in a row he has been six or extra behind following the opening day, with the Northern Irishman now dealing with an uphill battle to say the victory required to finish the profession Grand Slam.

Rose leads as McIlroy messes up quick begin

Rose made the dream begin with three consecutive birdies and produced an analogous run from the par-five eighth to drag away from the sector, with the Englishman then holing from 10 ft to reap the benefits of the par-five fifteenth.

The 2-time Masters runner-up quickly went 4 clear after rolling in a long-range birdie on the par-three sixteenth, with Rose’s lone bogey coming when a wayward tee shot on the par-four final noticed him having to pitch out from the timber.

Rose turns into the primary participant in Masters historical past to have a number of opening rounds of 65 or decrease, whereas it’s the fifth time he has held the lead or co-lead after the opening day at Augusta Nationwide – greater than some other participant.

Scheffler – bidding to change into the primary back-to-back winner at The Masters since Tiger Woods – took benefit of the par-five second earlier than draining a exceptional 60-foot birdie on the par-three fourth.

An excellent pitch on the par-five eighth arrange a 12-foot birdie that noticed him attain the flip in 33, the identical whole because the opening day of his title defence in 2023, with Scheffler ending a run of pars and transferring to 4 underneath with one other long-range birdie on the par-three sixteenth.

US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau and fellow LIV Golf league participant Tyrrell Hatton share fifth place on three underneath, whereas Akshay Bhatia – who performed alongside McIlroy – sits an extra stroke again with Harris English, Jason Day and England’s Aaron Rai.

McIlroy reached the flip in three underneath – his finest begin at Augusta Nationwide since 2011 – and took benefit of the par-five thirteenth to get inside three of Rose, solely to start out his plummet down the leaderboard with a double-bogey seven on the fifteenth.

The 35-year-old had gone lengthy of the inexperienced in two earlier than pitching again down the slope into the water, leaving him heading to the drop zone, earlier than falling additional behind when he racked up a three-putt double-bogey on the par-four seventeenth.

McIlroy’s closing par means he has now posted a sub-70 opening spherical simply twice in 17 appearances at Augusta Nationwide, with 18 of the final 19 Masters champions being inside 4 of the lead after the primary spherical.

Collin Morikawa additionally carded a level-par 72, with world No 3 Xander Schauffele and England’s Tommy Fleetwood among the many group an extra stroke behind, whereas Nick Dunlap propped up the leaderboard with an opening-round 90.

Rose and Scheffler inspired by begins

Justin Rose, talking to Sky Sports activities: “I went on the market with the mentality to attempt to be actually clear, actually affected person, and I simply ended up getting off to a flier!

“I obtained up and working, so from that second I felt like I used to be on the entrance foot and enjoying the golf course effectively. I started to develop a variety of confidence and felt like there was a very good spherical in me. I simply obtained unstuck at 18, however for probably the most half that was a fantastic day.”

Scottie Scheffler: “I feel anytime you get near the lead, it should be simpler so that you can win the golf match. That is a easy truth of the matter. You get off to a very good begin, statistically you are going to have a greater likelihood to win the match.

“I feel round main championship golf programs, it is humorous as a result of this can be a golf course the place there’s a variety of alternatives. There’s a variety of alternative over the weekend. There’s a variety of alternative on Sunday with the place they put the pins. I am a bit shocked that it is like that, however I would not say that it may’t be finished.”

When is The Masters live on Sky Sports?

Sky Sports activities Golf will probably be exhibiting document hours of reside protection from the 2025 contest, together with extra motion over the ultimate two rounds than earlier years. Wall-to-wall protection continues on Friday from 2pm, with Featured Group motion and common updates till the worldwide broadcast window begins at 8pm.

A brand new addition to this yr’s protection sees a Masters build-up present reside from 3pm over the weekend forward of full protection beginning at 5pm, masking all of the motion till after the shut of play.

Sky+, Sky Q and Sky Glass will present loads of bonus feeds and will let you observe gamers’ progress via numerous elements of Augusta’s well-known format, together with Amen Nook and extra.

Who will win The Masters? Watch all through the week reside on Sky Sports activities. Reside protection of the second spherical begins with Featured Teams on Friday from 2pm on Sky Sports activities Golf. Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW.