The first round of the 89th Masters Tournament is in the books after an exciting day at Augusta National. Justin Rose is the runaway favorite after the first round, shooting 7-under 65 to secure a three-stroke lead going into the second round on Friday, April 11, 2025. LIV golfers Tyrrell Hatton and Bryson DeChambeau are firmly in the mix at fifth place with 4-under.
Day 1 leaderboard:
- 1. Justin Rose — 65 (-7)
- T2. Corey Conners — 68 (-4)
- T2. Scottie Scheffler — 68 (-4)
- T5. Tyrrell Hatton — 69 (-3)
- T5. Bryson DeChambeau — 69 (-3)
- T7. Aaron Rai — 70 (-2)
- T7. Harris English — 70 (-2)
- T7. Jason Day — 70 (-2)
- T7. Akshay Bhatia — 70 (-2)
U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau and Tyrrell Hatton carried the LIV Golf flag, both at 69. DeChambeau had seven birdies in his up-and-down day, showcasing his scoring power. "Making some bogeys for me probably frees me up a little bit and says, you know what? Just go out and play some golf," DeChambeau said.
In stark contrast, Rory McIlroy, who is still chasing the elusive career Grand Slam, faced a nightmare finish. After starting strong, McIlroy stumbled with double bogeys on the 15th and 17th holes, finishing with a level-par 72, leaving him tied for 27th. This was his 11th attempt to secure the Green Jacket, and the pressure is mounting as he looks to break through.
Justin Rose's performance was nothing short of spectacular. The former U.S. Open champion had the course record of 63 in his sights, picking up his eighth birdie of the day on the 16th. However, he had to scramble for par on the 17th and bogeyed the last hole, still finishing with an impressive 7-under 65. Rose's strong start has placed him in a commanding position, three shots clear of the pack.
Defending champion Scottie Scheffler is tied for second along with Corey Conners and last year’s runner-up Ludvig Aberg, all three sitting three shots back from the leader. Scheffler had a solid round, shooting a 68 with three birdies, including a remarkable 62-footer on the par-3 fourth.
Meanwhile, Hatton's round of 69 marked a significant achievement for the Englishman, as he posted a sub-70 score in the opening rounds of the Masters for the first time in his career. Previously, his best score in the first three rounds at Augusta was 71. Hatton started strong, picking up two birdies in his first three holes and adding a third at the par-five eighth.
As the tournament progresses, the pressure mounts not just for the favorites but also for newcomers like Aaron Rai, who faced challenges on the back nine with three consecutive bogeys, dropping him from a promising start of -4 through eight holes to -1 through 13.
The Masters has also seen the emergence of Stephan Jaeger, who has been a surprise leader at -4 after ten holes. Jaeger, who missed the cut in his tournament debut last year, has made a strong comeback, not making a bogey through his first ten holes.
The atmosphere at Augusta National is electric as spectators are treated to thrilling performances and unexpected turns. Max Homa, who has struggled on the tour recently, managed to birdie the par-five second, showing signs of improvement after missing the cut in his last five PGA Tour appearances.
Amateur Jose Luis Ballester also made headlines, albeit for a rather unusual reason. During his round, he was caught short and was seen urinating into Rae’s Creek while playing the par-five 13th. "Well, I completely forgot that we had those restrooms to the left of the tee box and then I’m like, I really need to pee," Ballester said, laughing off the incident.
As the first round wraps up, all eyes will be on the second round, where players will look to capitalize on their momentum or recover from early mistakes. The leaderboard is tight, and with three rounds still to play, anything can happen at Augusta National.
With the stakes high and the competition fierce, the Masters continues to deliver excitement and drama, keeping fans on the edge of their seats as they witness the unfolding storylines of the world's best golfers.
