Masters live Friday scoreboard here , Friday tee times here.
In the world of track and field a tactic often used in the blue ribbon event, the mile, or 1500 meters was to run the first of 4 laps at top speed, one that could not be sustained, but one that would open up a lead of 100 yards, and one you hoped you could hang on to as the field closed on you as the finish line approached. It was called "being the rabbit" in reference to the electronic rabbit used in grey hound racing for the dogs to chase after...
Justin Rose produced an astonishing run of scoring to card a 65 and take a four shot lead after day one of the 2021 Masters Tournament as he became the rabbit.
Augusta National was proving an incredibly tough challenge for the first Major Championship of the 2021 Race to Dubai, with firm and fast conditions meaning just three players managed to break 70 in Georgia.
Rose did not look like he would be one of them at two over after seven holes but an eagle on the eighth proved to be the turning point and he would birdie seven of his next nine holes to get to seven under and open up a commanding lead.
It meant that the Englishman led or co-led the Masters for the sixth time in his career, the most by any player to have not won the event.
But he has come close, with a lost play-off to Sergio Garcia in 2017 and another second in 2015 to go with three other top tens and just one missed cut in 15 appearances.
His tie for second at the Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers is his only top ten since last year's US PGA Championship but the former World Number One - who now sits 41st in the Official World Golf Ranking - looked truly back to his brilliant best as he goes in search of a second Major Championship.
“I guess the good news is I don’t know what happened, that’s often when you play your best golf and get into the nice rhythm or flow,” Rose said.
“I didn’t panic being two over through seven. I knew this was a day not to play yourself out of the tournament; the course had a lot of teeth to it.
“The pins were relatively fair so good golf shots could be rewarded and to be nine under for my last 11, you can never quite see that coming here at Augusta National.
"I've competed in these big tournaments quite a few times and I've got one of them to my name but we're looking for more.
"But I've had some situations in my career that should stand me in good stead. I think to keep the expectations relatively low even in this situation is not a bad thing for me for the remainder of the week and just keep it one shot at a time, keep committing on this golf course you can never get ahead of yourself on, we've seen it many times around here."
Canadians: Meanwhile Corey Connors (12.24 1st tee) made the turn -2 but came home in +3 which included his one big mistake, a double bogey 7 at the par 5 13th, when after a perfect drive and 225 left, he in his words "got a bit greedy and put it in Rae's creek, then compounded the issue with a poor pitch after the drop"
I watched every shot on the fantastic Masters website, he drove the ball very well, his iron play was also very good, and especially on the front nine with Augusta's greens right on the edge, he made several 5-10 foot par saving putts, although he missed a few, particularly a 3 putt from 16 feet at the par 3 16th. His +1 73 T 20 will stand him in good stead as will a solid E 72 T13 for Mac Hughes (8.24am 1st tee). Mike Weir +6 78. (8.36am 1st tee)
Bryan Angus (europeantour.com)
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