Justin Rose leads Masters after Rory McIlroy's late collapse

Rory McIlroy faced a challenging opening round at the Masters, finishing with a level-par 72 after two late double bogeys derailed what had been a promising start. Initially four-under par and tied for second, McIlroy's round took a turn for the worse on the 15th hole when he overshot the green, leading to a double bogey. Paul McGinley suggested that McIlroy lost focus due to the slow play of his partner, while Jack Nicklaus expressed concern about McIlroy's tendency to score higher than expected in critical moments. In contrast, Justin Rose soared to the top of the leaderboard with a remarkable seven-under 65, marking his fifth time leading after the first round at the Masters, a tournament record. Scottie Scheffler, the defending champion, sits three shots behind Rose after a solid bogey-free round. McIlroy's inability to capitalize on his strong start raises questions about his chances for completing the career Grand Slam at Augusta.