Summary of Rory's spectacular career....No stopping now..

 Rory McIlroy won last year's Masters Tournament to join illustrious company in completing the career Grand Slam, and added a sixth Major title on Sunday with his successful defence this year.

In 2025, the Northern Irishman dramatically defeated Justin Rose in a play-off at Augusta National, ending a near 11-year-wait for his fifth Major Championship victory.

By winning the fourth and final leg of golf's four biggest titles in men's professional golf, he became just the sixth player to do so - after Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.

He also became just the second member of the elite group since the turn of the century after Woods did so by winning The Open at St Andrews in 2000.

At 35, he was the second oldest player to complete the career Grand Slam, five years younger than Hogan was when he achieved it in 1953.

"This is my 17th time here, and I started to wonder if it would ever be my time," McIlroy said after his win.

"I'm just absolutely honored and thrilled, and so proud to be able to call myself a Masters champion ... A moment like that makes all the years and all the close calls worth it.

2026

A year later, he once again held off a brilliant effort from Rose and eventually finished one shot better than Scottie Scheffler as he became just the fourth player in history to successfully defend The Masters after Nicklaus, Sir Nick Faldo, and Woods.

With victory, he also tied Faldo's Major tally of six, the most of any European in history.

"I just can't believe I waited 17 years to get one green jacket, and I get two in a row. It's just sort of the way -- I don't know. I think all of my perseverance at this golf tournament over the years has really started to pay off. 

It was a tough weekend. I did the bulk of my work on Thursday and Friday. But just so, so happy to hang in there and get the job done."

Let's take a look at the statistics underlining the continued global success of the Northern Irishman.

Since turning professional in 2007, as an 18-year-old, McIlroy has made a combined 531 appearances across the DP World Tour and PGA TOUR. Including his eight amateur starts on the DP World Tour, he has 266 starts on Golf’s Global Tour and 272 on the PGA TOUR to make 539 overall.

2009

The first title of his career in the paid ranks came on the DP World Tour in 2009 at the Dubai Desert Classic, a tournament he has won a record four times.

In 2009, then aged 20, he made his debut on the PGA TOUR - outside the Major Championships and WGCs - at the Honda Classic, finishing in a tie for 13th.

Later that year, he climbed into the top 10 on the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time.

2010

His first title on the PGA TOUR came at the Quail Hollow Championship in 2010, a title he has since won a further three times.

2012

Since he became World #1 for the first time in 2012, he has spent a cumulative 122 weeks at the top of the Official World Golf Ranking.

Alongside his six Majors, three WGCs and victory at the co-sanctioned Genesis Scottish Open, McIlroy has 11 further wins on the DP World Tour and 20 on the PGA TOUR.

Future

With his most recent win, he tied Sir Nick Faldo as the now two winningest European golfers in Majors, with six.

He has won the Harry Vardon Trophy seven times, awarded to the winner of the Race to Dubai on the DP World Tour, and three FedEx Cups, awarded to the PGA TOUR's leading season-long player.

Across his 68 appearances in Majors, since his debut as an amateur at The Open Championship in 2007, he has made the cut on 56 occasions and amassed 34 top tens,  including four runner-ups. Since turning professional, he has missed just one Major - the 2015 Open Championship through injury.

Alongside his individual success, McIlroy has starred as a team player - winning six Ryder Cups since his debut at Celtic Manor in 2010.

Since losing his first match in the biennial matchplay contest - in fourballs - he has claimed 21.5 points from 38 matches in eight Ryder Cups.

EDIT >>> What is clear, if we needed his historic win this weekend, this is just the start of the Renaissance period of his career, free of pressure, he can now move on free of the crushing pressure all professionals feel when under the gun. 

Here in his words : “I think the story as it relates to me is what do I do from now onwards?,” he said earlier in the week.

“What motivates me? What gets me going? What do I still want to achieve in the game? I think that's the story.

“And there's still a lot that I want to do. You think every time you achieve something or have success that you'll be happy, but then the goalposts move, and they just keep nudging a little bit further and further out of reach.

“I think what I've realised is, if you can just really find enjoyment in the journey, that's the big thing because honestly I felt like the career Grand Slam was my destination, and I got there, and then I realized it wasn't the destination !

I just won my sixth major, and I feel like I'm in a really good spot with my game and my body.

“I don't want to put a number on it, but I feel like this win is just -- I don't want to say a stop on the journey, but yeah, it's just a part of the journey. I still have things I want to achieve, but I still want to enjoy it as well.

“I've waited so long to win the Masters, and all of a sudden I win two in a row. So I still want to enjoy it. I've got a couple of weeks off before I go back to play competitive golf, but I don't think I'll go through that lull of motivation or the sort of things that I was feeling last year post winning this tournament.

“It took me 10 years to win my fifth major, and then my sixth one's come pretty soon after it. I'm not putting a number on it, but I certainly don't want to stop here.”

Only time will tell where McIlroy’s Major tally ends, but after his 2026 Masters victory, one thing is certain: he has no intention of letting it end now.

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

Rory is the Story, Masters Champion again.... Final Results

  Masters Leaderboard Results

Rory McIlroy successfully defended his Masters title to claim a sixth Major victory and become just the fourth man in history to win this tournament in back‑to‑back years.

A year after securing the missing piece of the Grand Slam at The Masters and ending more than a decade of heartache around Augusta National, McIlroy won for a second time in a row on a Sunday that demanded every bit of his resilience.

Following a Saturday that saw his record 36‑hole lead erased, McIlroy survived unrelenting drama and several lead changes during the final round as he came out on top of the 90th Masters Tournament with a one‑stroke victory over Scottie Scheffler.

"I can't believe I waited 17 years to win one green jacket and now I've won two in a row," he said after his victory in Butler Cabin.

"I'm just so happy to have hung in there and get the job done."

He survived an early stumble to Cameron Young, a charging Justin Rose and a late push from  Scottie Scheffler as he found his way to a two‑shot lead heading to the 18th tee.

With a shot cushion greater than he had last year, his final hole was still far from a straightforward victory march. McIlroy found the trees on the right with his drive, and his following approach finished in the front‑right bunker. From a difficult lie, he splashed out to 12 feet and rolled his putt to tap‑in range for bogey, and the title.

As he crouched to his knees, shaking his head with a smile, he was heard saying, “Can’t believe it. No way,” before tapping in to complete the successful defence of his title.

He joins Jack Nicklaus, Sir Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods as the fourth player to win the Masters in consecutive years.

EDIT >>> Rory is now on another phase of his storied career, having won the Grand Slam all the rest including todays gutsy win are just adding to his legacy. He has nothing left to prove, he is free to compete and enjoy the game like never before. Majors, Ryder Cups, Races to Dubai to come are all to savour.

Current star players like Scott Scheffler, Cameron Young, Xander Schauffelle etal are all beginning or in the midst of walking down the road Rory has travelled, their days in the spotlight will come, their final tally still in the making. 

He has now followed what Jack Nicklaus did in 1975, considered one of the Masters greatest moments, his achievement this week, as the sun set on this 90th Masters, secure in the record books for all time.

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

Can Rory follow Jack 50 years later?..Sunday scoreboard/ TEE Times at Masters

Masters Tee Times Leaderboard 

Weather: Today's forecast 

Mostly sunny and hot low 56*f high 87*f wind variable turning SE 3-6mph

"In 1975, in what was called one of the greatest Masters, Jack Nicklaus posted 68 67 to lead Weiskopf and Miller by 5 shots, only to struggle to 73 on Saturday while Tom shot 66 and Johnny 65, left Weiskopf in the lead.

Jack fought back with a Sunday 68 including the legendary 40 foot putt on 16 to win his 5th Masters." 

Can Rory now follow Jack 50 years later, after his Saturday 73 ?

Here is the back story...

Rory McIlroy carded a battling 73 on day three of the Masters Tournament to share the lead with Cameron Young heading into the final round at Augusta National.

The defending champion went into Saturday with a record six-shot lead but any thoughts of a cruise to a second Green Jacket were soon dismissed on a topsy-turvy afternoon.

While those chasing took advantage of perfect conditions on a low-scoring day, McIlroy struggled off the tee and found himself trailing as he exited Amen Corner.

A pair of birdies had him back in front but another wayward drive led to a fifth dropped shot of the day on the 17th and he will head back out on Sunday locked at -11 with American Young, who carded a brilliant 65.

Sam Burns was then at -10 after a 68, one clear of Shane Lowry who carded the same score 68 with a hole-in-one.

Jason Day and Justin Rose sat at -8, with Scottie Scheffler 65 and Haotong Li a shot further back -7

McIlroy completed the career Grand Slam with his victory here last season, going on to win his home open, the Race to Dubai and the Ryder Cup with Europe in what was a standout year.

He has not quite hit those heights consistently so far in 2026 but he was at his brilliant best on Thursday and Friday and knows what is required in round four.

"The course was obviously gettable," he said. "There was a lot of good scores out there and obviously the quality of the chasing pack is obvious. There was a lot of guys that shot good scores.

"There's a lot of guys in with a chance tomorrow. I'm still tied for the best score going into tomorrow, so I can't forget that, but I do know I'm going to have to be better if I want to have a chance to win.

"There's a long way to go. This golf course has a way of... when you're not quite feeling it, you struggle. You have to dig deep and I felt like I did that on the front nine and made a lot of good par saves."

Young was +4 after seven holes on Thursday but has registered just two bogeys since and is riding the crest of a wave as THE PLAYERS champion and standout US star of last year's Ryder Cup.

"It's something I've dreamed of doing for a long time," he said of potentially winning a Green Jacket. "I like the position I'm in. If you had said on Thursday at about noon that I was going to be within a couple of the lead going into Sunday, I would have taken it in a heartbeat, especially given the fact that I was watching Rory play.

"Anytime you're around the lead in a Major, especially here, anything can happen. We saw today a slow start and a hot start can erase a lot. It's just kind of a matter of keeping myself in it tomorrow and doing the best I can to stay around the lead for as long as possible, and you see what happens at the end."

McIlroy strode to the first tee exuding the sort of confidence his position merited but after a poor tee-shot and three putts from over the back of the first, his lead was trimmed to two.

Lowry was among those in a share of second thanks to a spectacular hole-in-one at the par-three sixth, only the seventh in history at that hole and Lowry’s second at the Masters after his ace at the 16th a decade ago.

McIlroy, meanwhile, was grinding, needing to get up and down to save par on the fourth, sixth and seventh while all those chasing were putting up red numbers

Li had made the most of the gettable second and third and birdied the fifth before he put a remarkable second to tap-in range at the eighth to get to -9.

He bogeyed the 13th after finding the water, however, and it was Young who emerged as the closest challenger.

THE PLAYERS champion had five birdies in his first ten holes and after seeing his tee-shot on the 13th find the fairway off a tree after a snappy hook, he took advantage with a two-putt birdie to get into double figures and two back as McIlroy made the turn in 36 after six straight pars.

A huge drive and towering iron on the 14th meant the 28-year-old was just one back before McIlroy hit a beautiful approach on the tenth and holed a six-footer to take a two-shot lead into Amen Corner, with those in third five back.

The duo’s dominance soon looked fragile, though, with McIlroy surrendering a double-bogey after finding the water at the 11th and Young dropping a shot after doing the same at the 15th.

Young bounced back with a 27-foot right-to-lefter at the 16th and he was the solo leader after McIlroy flew the 12th green and failed to get up and down for bogey.

McIlroy’s playing partner Burns made eight pars in a row after a birdie-birdie start but a brilliant approach at the treacherous 11th and putt from the fringe on the 13th had him alongside his partner at -10 as Young signed for his 65.

Rory had to scramble to save par on the same hole before he finally found a fairway on the 14th and used that platform to make a birdie, adding another with two putts on the par-five 15th to wrestle back the lead.

Another poor tee-shot then ultimately led to another bogey on the 17th with McIlroy missing a good birdie chance on the low side on the 18th for 73.

Rose – a three-time runner-up at Augusta National - was bogey-free in his 69 with birdies on the third, eighth and 13th, while Day made four birdies in a row from the 12th in a 68.

In his remaining holes, Li birdied the 14th but bogeyed the 15th and 18th 69 to sit alongside two-time champion Scheffler who carded a 65 for -7

Reed and fellow Americans Patrick Cantlay 66 and Russell Henley 66 rounded out the top ten at -6

EDIT>>> Canadians Nick Taylor T21 70 -3 and Corey Conners T44 71 +3.

Sunday will dawn another impossibly beautiful sunny hot, still Georgia day, the tapestry on which an epic chapter in the 90 year old Masters will unfold.

I will say traditionally it is not the norm to follow up a really low round with another as Rory displayed. I doubt therefore if Young 65 and Scheffler 65 will duplicate their scores, and Sam Burns couldn't play better.

The question of the day, can Rory follow Jack's 1975 epic Sunday win, with one of his own ?

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

Saturday: Chasing Rory is the story, Canadian scores...Live leaderboard TEE TIMES

 Masters Tee Times Leaderboard 

Weather: Today's forecast 

Mostly sunny and hot low 52*f high 86*f wind variable turning SE 3-6mph

Sunday sunny and hot, low 56*f high 87*f wind SE 5-10 mph

Friday afternoon turned out to be another glorious chapter in the legendary career of Rory McIlroy who went on at the end of a long Friday, to thrill the millions watching around the world with a Masterclass -7 65 including birdies on his last 6 holes.

So his 67 65 -12 is the low scoring record, 6 shots clear of the field and his 3 Ryder Cup friend Tommy Fleetwood, Shane Lowry and the romantic favourite Justin Rose who are all at -5.

However the hot and dry conditions, requiring the August staff to water the greens to save them, means their course will be as hard and fast as it has ever been, and that means no lead is a lock to win.

Reed and Burns who is paired with Rory are at -6.

Tommy Fleetwood: "When conditions get tougher in the day because it dries out and gets firmer and faster, a good round in the morning can make a world of difference, so it can really help you"

Wyndham Clark at -4: "Here you can make birdies too if you just hang in there, you nevver know when your streak will come"

Elephant in the room : Scott Scheffler T24 70 74 E is either going to start making some putts today or be a none factor all together. I know he is driving the ball better this week, his iron play has been fine with a few exceptions, but he is gun shy on these lightning fast touch greens. 

He is off at 12.16 with Ludvig Aberg with a chance to post something low, I expect he will.

Rory's game plan: "The next two days for me are just about focusing on myself. It's hard to miss those big leaderboards out there but I know I have a lead. So for me I just have to keep focusing on myself, and staying in my own little world is the best thing"

Canadians : Nick Taylor has quietly gone about his business T20 71 72 -1 He plays with Matt Fitzpatrick today at 12.49

Corey Conners just can't be trusted around Augusta, like yesterday when he was comfortably under the cut +4 until he went and made bogey's at 17 and 18 to hold on and just make the weekend T47 75 73.

He is paired with Brian Harman at 10.04 with fresh greens, before the heat of the day, he must post a low score today, or just play the week out.

OPINION

No lead is ever big enough and somebody is going to make a big move today, to make a game of it.

Following his unreal -7 65 which to highlight an instance, was a 60 yard chip in at the 17th, he couldn't do that again with 50 balls, Rory will be very unlikely to duplicate Friday.

In my opinion if he can birdie the par 5's and stay out of a big number he will win no matter what anyone does. 

However if he shoots 72E today that lead will be all but gone come Sunday.

Bryan Angus

European Ryder Cup teammates in contention at the Masters

  Masters Tee Times Leaderboard

Weather: Today's forecast 

Mostly sunny and hot low 52*f high 86*f wind variable turning SE 3-6mph

Sunday sunny and hot, low 56*f high 87*f wind SE 5-10 mph

Justin Rose showed his years of experience to remain in the mix to win the Masters as his European Ryder Cup team-mates Tommy Fleetwood, Shane Lowry and Tyrrell Hatton also boosted their hopes of claiming the Green Jacket for the first time.

Rose shrugged off the disappointment of two late bogeys in his opening 70 to card five birdies and two bogeys in a disciplined second-round 69 on Friday.

It lifted the former World Number One to five under par before Rory McIlroy, the man who beat him in a play-off at Augusta National last year, surged clear later in the day with a 65 to advance to 12 under and a record six-shot lead over Patrick Reed and Sam Burns.

“The course was good today,” he said.

“It being in the morning, there was a little bit of moisture in the greens. There wasn't a tonne of wind. It felt somewhat gettable.

“I thought the pins were just a little easier than yesterday. So, kind of surprised to potentially not see more guys making a run at it. But I anticipate a few guys getting just a touch further ahead than they are now.”

“I feel in good form. I feel in good spirits. Yeah, enjoying it.”

Fleetwood made two eagles in a round of 68 to move alongside Rose, with the fan favourite from England chasing a long-awaited first Major triumph after ending his wait for first PGA TOUR title last year.

"I always felt I've had a chance at Majors as well in the past," he said.

"I did say I sort of take things in the present moment, and I think last year for as good as the year was, my [performances at] Majors were disappointing to me

"I've had a good start. I've had two good days, but there's a long way to go. There's six more in this tournament, and then there's three more Majors."

Lowry, who posted a bogey-free 69 on Friday, is relishing the opportunity to battle for a second Major title, having claimed his Major breakthrough at The Open in 2019.

"Look, I'm in a nice position," he said, before his good friend McIlroy's scintillating back nine flourish.

"I played well today. I felt like I did a lot of good things, and my attitude was great. So I'm very, very happy. If you give me this position yesterday morning, I would have taken your hand off.

"To be kind of in the mix going into the weekend around here is nice, so I'm looking forward to it."

Hatton has endured his struggles at Augusta since his debut in 2018, but the signs are that he is coming to grips with the challenge, having finished in the top 15 in each of his last two appearances.

After opening with a 74, he carded seven birdies and bogey – coming at the last – to post a 66 that vaulted him up the leaderboard to four under as he hit all 18 greens in regulation.

“I mean, today was a great day," he said. "Actually, walking up 18 I was pretty confident that I couldn't mess it up enough that I wouldn't shoot my best score here.

“I mean, naturally I tried with a three-putt, so that was disappointing, to say the least. But, yeah, I mean, I certainly would have taken six-under before I went out.

“I gave myself lots of opportunities. I would have liked to have seen more putts go in.

“I don't feel like I actually holed that many putts certainly outside sort of seven, eight feet. Hopefully I can do a bit better on that front over the weekend, but overall it was a good day.”

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

Roy is the Story at Augusta, 36 hole results, Saturday TEE TIMES

 Masters Tee Times Leaderboard

Defending champion Rory McIlroy seized control of the 90th Masters with a brilliant burst of scoring on the back nine to take a record six-shot lead at the halfway stage.

The Northern Irishman birdied six of his final seven holes – including a chip-in at the 17th – in a second-round 65 to reach -12  and surge clear from a high-quality chasing pack at Augusta National.

It is the largest 36-hole lead at the Masters, with American duo Patrick Reed, the 2018 Masters winner, and Sam Burns the nearest challengers to McIlroy at -6

Justin Rose, who McIlroy beat in a play-off to win the Green Jacket last year, Tommy Fleetwood and Shane Lowry sit in a share of fourth place at -5 after a strong showing by the European Ryder Cup trio.

McIlroy ended a near 11-year wait to complete the career Grand Slam with a dramatic play-off victory over Rose 12 months ago and is playing with freedom as he targets more Masters history.

Victory this week would see him become just the fourth player in history to repeat as Masters champion, after Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods.

After withdrawing with a back injury at the Arnold Palmer Invitational last month, McIlroy has not played since The Players Championship and many outside observers questioned whether he could challenge for this year’s Green Jacket.

But he disproved any pre-tournament doubts with a 67 on Thursday, backing that up in spectacular fashion a day later with a brilliant short game performance and an improved showing off the tee after finding only five fairways in the first round.

In a sign of the confidence and freedom he is playing with, McIIlroy made a hat-trick of birdies at from the second, but a missed green from the fairway at the fifth resulted in his first dropped shot of the day.

A second would follow at the tenth, but a brilliant tee shot at the world-famous 12th provided a spark for McIlroy as his wedge game helped him birdie the 13th.

That moved him to -8 but with a host of Major champions out on the course in close contention McIlroy accelerated as he took advantage of the par-five 15th before birdieing the 16th after another exquisite tee shot.

However, he was reliant on his short game at the 17th, chipping in from off the green to huge roars from the patrons, before closing out his round in style after another precise approach for a closing birdie and a stunning -7 65, which incidentally was 9 shots better than the betting favourite Scott Scheffler who struggled on the greens to a +2 74.

After a week of sunshine, conditions were tough on the opening day but the greens were watered ahead of the second round and scoring proved easier as a result.

Race to Dubai Rankings leader Reed shot a -3 69 that finished with a bogey as he too, like McIlroy, bids for his second Green Jacket having won the Masters in 2018.

Burns, who held a share of the first-round lead, closed with back-to-back birdies and will play alongside McIlroy in the final group of Saturday's third round.

Making his 21st Masters start, Rose knows he'll need a brilliant weekend in his quest for an elusive first Masters having on his opening 70 with a 69 that featured four birdies in a five-hole stretch.

While the former World Number One was part of the morning wave of starters on Friday, both Fleetwood and Lowry were among the final groups of the day.

Fleetwood made two eagles in his 68 to give him hope of a first Major Championship victory, while Lowry birdied two of his final three holes in a bogey-free 69 to also get to -5.

EDIT>>>>The cut fell at +4. Both Canadians will play the weekend, Corey Conners bogeyed his last two holes to just make it T47 75 73 +4 while Nick Taylor is T20 71 72 -1.

Bryson DeChambeau took a horrendous triple bogey 7 at the 18th to miss the cut 76 74 +6, while his LIV compatriot on Rahm T47 78 70 +4 to squeak in.

The victorious European Ryder Cup team is starring on the leaderboard with Rory 1st, Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood and Shane Lowry are all T4 -5, Tyrrell Hatton is T7 -4 after his -6 66.

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

Rory off to great start defending his Masters title..

 Rory McIlroy made an excellent start to the defence of his Masters title as he shot a -5 67 to hold a share of the first-round lead alongside Sam Burns.

The Northern Irishman, who completed the career Grand Slam with a dramatic play-off victory over Justin Rose last year, posted his lowest opening round at Augusta National since a 65 in 2011.

McIlroy mixed six birdies – including a hat-trick of them on the back nine – with a solitary bogey to match American Burns, who eagled the par five second on his way to his career best score at the Georgia venue.

It is an ideal start for McIlroy in his bid to become only the fourth player to retain the Green Jacket, while a win would also see him match Sir Nick Faldo’s haul of six Major Championships.

“Great start to the week obviously,” he said of his opening round.

“Honestly, I couldn’t have got a lot more out of my round today. I feel like I leaned heavily on my experience out there to do that.”

McIlroy has cut an understandably relaxed figure this week, embracing the perks that come with being a Masters winner with the highlight being the Champions Dinner on Tuesday.

Many outside observers wondered whether he would have the edge required, he was asked repeatedly this week, but he disproved that notion in emphatic fashion.

Among the morning starters on day one, the 36-year-old birdied the second but gave the shot back straight away with a three-putt bogey at the third.

After a string of pars, in part due to impressive recovery play, he finished his back nine with a pair of birdies to hit the turn in -2

But things were to get better as he made a run of three consecutive birdies from the 13th through to the 15th as he birdied all four par fives at Augusta, with the latter of those the pick of the bunch after holing a swinging left-to-right putt from around 30 feet.

He closed with three pars, with little fuss, to ensure a job well done but he knows improvements can be made having hit just five fairways off the tee.

“My hope was to get off to a solid start,” he added. “I feel like the way I played, -5 sort of exceeded where I thought I would be or what I wanted to do.

“I think a fair score for me today would have been like -2 maybe with some of the places I hit it.

“But again, I used my head and I got up-and-down when I needed to. I didn't compound mistakes. Again, that's just a learning curve that you have to go through around here, and I did it well today.”

Burns, making his fifth start at the Masters, made an eagle at the second, hitting a brilliant approach to 11 feet with a six iron.

After trading shots at the sixth and eighth, the five-time PGA TOUR winner picked up three shots in a four-hole run from the 12th including at both par fives on the back nine to card his 67.

“I drove it really nice and that obviously helps,” he said. “I think historically people who have success here play the par fives really well, and we were able to do that today. It's a good recipe around this golf course, yeah.”

Patrick Reed, the Race to Dubai leader, sits T3 alongside fellow American Kurt Kitayama and Australia's Jason Day at -3

A shot further back is Scottie Scheffler and Justin Rose among others, the Englishman having dropped shots at the 17th and 18th in a stumbling finish to what had otherwise been an impressive performance on his 21st Masters start.

"I think overall a good start," said Rose of his opening 70.

"Just big-picture, kind of knew the course was going to be playing tricky today, especially this afternoon.

"Obviously my day, yeah, spoiled a little bit by two late bogeys, but other than that, I think a good start to the tournament."

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)