Rose Blooms Again at Augusta
Justin Rose leads with vintage 65, embracing his ‘Indian Summer’ in 20th Masters start
Augusta, Georgia - Justin Rose turned back the clock on Thursday, firing a sparkling seven-under-par 65 to top the leaderboard after the opening round of the 2025 Masters. It matched his career-best score at Augusta and came with eight birdies, just one blemish at the 18th, and a good dose of perspective.
“Obviously delighted to get off to such a great start,” Rose said. “To be 3-under through 3 really got me on the front foot. I felt like I was playing great golf.”
It was a start filled with authority, precision and purpose — capped by a vintage Rose performance on the greens. He holed a 25-footer at the first to settle the nerves, then ran off a string of clinical birdies on 8, 9 and 10 before cooling off slightly at the finish.
“I felt like I was doing something potentially more on the special side,” he admitted. “At that point, I was looking to do something really low.”
Though he missed a chance at birdie on the last two holes, Rose left the course as the solo leader and, more importantly, buoyed by belief.
At 44, Rose is firmly into what he calls the "Indian Summer" of his career. He’s a major champion, an Olympic gold medallist and a Ryder Cup veteran — but the Green Jacket has always slipped through his grasp. This week, though, the hunger hasn’t faded, and neither has the fire.
“I’ve played well enough to win this tournament. I just don’t have the jacket to prove it,” he said. “It’s a compliment, really. I’ve had a lot of good rounds here. Got a lot of crystal. But you want to be the last man standing on Sunday.”
It’s his 20th Masters appearance, and the motivation, he says, is not just about legacy — but love.
“If I go and play golf by myself in the evening and still enjoy that experience, I know I still love the game enough to make the sacrifices that are required to play well,” he said. “I like my back against the wall. That’s kind of my M.O.”
This year, Rose has re-committed. He’s fine-tuned his wedge game, sharpened his bunker play, and returned to the mentality that once made him world No.1.
“My good is good again,” he said. “When I’m playing well, I’m competing at a high level.”
He showed that at Royal Troon last summer and again at last year’s PGA, where he held his own on courses not built for his game.
“That gives you motivation to still work hard,” he said. “If you don’t feel like you can play at an elite level, then practice becomes hard.”
There was no rush to chase others on Thursday, not even Scottie Scheffler, who had posted a strong round earlier.
“We’re all running our own race,” Rose shrugged. “But yeah, you notice him. You know he’s going to be tough from there.”
As for his own expectations, Rose is content with the journey — and eager for one more defining chapter.
“I do feel I could make a statement with how well I play the back end of my career,” he said. “There’s still opportunity to do things I haven’t done before… but I see it all as upside now.”
That attitude, much like his swing, looks right at home among the azaleas. And once again, as a familiar name climbs the Masters leaderboard, Rose finds himself with a chance.