The opening round of the 89th Masters brought drama to Augusta National as Justin Rose delivered a flawless performance to seize the lead with a remarkable 7-under 65. Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy’s hopes of completing the elusive career Grand Slam took another hit, as a promising start unraveled late in the round.
For much of Thursday, McIlroy seemed poised to contend. Playing alongside Akshay Bhatia and Jason Day, the Northern Irishman’s driving was superb, and his approach game appeared dialed in. He stood at 4-under through 14 holes, keeping pace with the leaders and placing himself in a strong position to challenge for the green jacket. However, the par-5 15th, often a pivotal hole at Augusta, marked the start of a painful collapse.
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After a perfect tee shot to the right side of the fairway, McIlroy attempted to land his approach pin-high but overshot the green. What followed was an error that has come to symbolize his struggles at Augusta: faced with a treacherous chip uphill and downhill toward the pin with water lurking just beyond, McIlroy sent his ball into the pond. The result was a double bogey that stripped him of his momentum.
Two holes later, McIlroy’s troubles deepened. At the par-4 17th, an errant approach left him long again, and a mishandled chip coupled with a missed par putt resulted in another double bogey. The promising 4-under round evaporated, and McIlroy walked off the course with an even-par 72-a score that felt far worse given his earlier brilliance.
A devastating ending to the day
McIlroy declined to speak to the media after his round, but his body language spoke volumes. As he crossed the first hole en route to the clubhouse, he exhaled deeply, seemingly reflecting on another disappointing day at Augusta National.
The collapse highlights a persistent theme in McIlroy’s career at the Masters: Augusta remains a mental and strategic challenge he has yet to conquer. “You cannot play Augusta National like any other course,” said Jason Day, emphasizing the unique demands of the iconic venue. McIlroy’s aggressive style often shines elsewhere, but Augusta requires precision and an acute understanding of where mistakes cannot be made, an approach he has struggled to embrace.
For McIlroy fans, watching Thursday’s meltdown was a reminder of the heartbreaks past, most notably his 2011 collapse when he held the lead heading into the final round only to fall apart on the back nine. Since then, despite his stellar career and consistent status as a top-three player in the world, Augusta has remained his Achilles heel.
In contrast, Justin Rose’s mastery of the course on Thursday underscored why he is a perennial contender at the Masters. Rose navigated the firm greens and challenging pin placements with precision, carding birdies in bunches and avoiding the mistakes that undid McIlroy. With Scottie Scheffler, Corey Conners, and Ludvig Åberg three strokes behind, Rose’s position as the first-round leader reflects his experience and Augusta expertise.
As the tournament progresses, McIlroy faces an uphill battle to regain momentum and compete for the green jacket. Augusta National, with its unforgiving design and relentless pressure, once again demonstrated why it is the most challenging venue in golf. Whether McIlroy can turn things around remains to be seen, but for now, the narrative of Augusta’s grip on McIlroy remains alive and well. Meanwhile, the battle at the top promises thrilling competition in pursuit of one of golf’s most coveted prizes.
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