AUGUSTA, Georgia: England’s Justin Rose used a red-hot putter to build a four-shot Masters clubhouse lead over defending champion Scottie Scheffler in the opening round on Thursday at Augusta National where Grand Slam-seeking Rory McIlroy ran into trouble late. Rose, twice a runner-up at the year’s first major, needed just 22 putts en route to a seven-under-par 65 that equaled his best start to a Masters and left him in control. Rose had the world’s best golfer breathing down his neck, though, as twice champion Scheffler bids to become the fourth golfer to retain his Masters crown. The 44-year-old Rose, who went out with the late starters, wasted no time making a move as he kicked off his round with three consecutive birdies and added another three in succession around the turn before back-to-back birdies at 15 and 16. The only blemish on the card for Rose, who with a win here would become the oldest first-time Masters champion since a 41-year-old Mark O’Meara won in 1998, came at the 18th where he made bogey after his tee shot missed the fairway. World number one Scheffler’s round included a huge birdie putt from 62 feet at the par-three fourth and a pair of up-and-down par saves after chipping out of greenside bunkers at both the seventh and 17th holes. “Anytime you can keep a card clean out here it’s a really good thing... I struggled for what felt like two pars today,” said Scheffler. “I had to make two really good up-and-downs.
