Justin Rose delivered a stellar performance in the opening round of the 2025 Masters, taking the lead with an impressive 7-under 65 at Augusta National on Thursday, April 10. The English golfer, who previously won the 2013 U.S. Open, is in pursuit of his second Major title. His strong start has given him a three-shot advantage going into the second round.
Rose managed to outperform notable competitors such as Phil Mickelson, Jordan Spieth, and Marc Leishman in terms of first-round scoring average at the Masters, specifically among players who have made at least 10 appearances at the tournament. Since his debut in 2003, Rose has now played in the Masters 20 times. His opening-round scoring average is approximately 70.55 — the best among experienced players — ahead of John Huston (71.08), Marc Leishman (71.20), Phil Mickelson (71.22), and Jordan Spieth (71.42).
Marc Leishman 👀 pic.twitter.com/vrVIvRAIoZ
— LIV’r & Onions! (@LIVRandONIONS) April 10, 2025
Historically, Rose’s second-round scoring average at the Masters is about 72.79, leaving fans and analysts eager to see how he will perform in the next round on Friday, April 11.
During his first round, Rose came out strong with three consecutive birdies on the opening three holes. He went on to collect five birdies on the front nine, with additional ones at the 8th and 9th holes. On the back nine, he added three more birdies and recorded just one bogey — on the final hole — finishing the round at 7-under par.
Corey Conners, defending champion Scottie Scheffler, and Ludvig Åberg are currently tied for second place at 4-under.
Speaking to the media after his round, Rose expressed satisfaction with his performance, especially his fast start. He acknowledged that starting well was key and credited his early momentum for setting the tone.
Over his previous 19 appearances at Augusta, Rose has twice finished as the runner-up — in 2015 and 2017 — and has six top-10 finishes overall. With his commanding performance in the opening round, Rose has positioned himself as a strong contender heading into the weekend. The final round of the 2025 Masters is set to take place on Sunday, April 13.