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 ...