Rory McIlroy Nearly Hits Turtle During Masters Practice Round

Rory McIlroy had a rocky start at the Masters, struggling with his opening round and facing a double bogey on the 15th hole after his chip shot found the water. Despite the challenges, McIlroy created a memorable moment by skipping a shot over a pond, narrowly missing a turtle that was basking nearby, which elicited humorous reactions from fans and commentators. Meanwhile, Justin Rose had a record-breaking first round, shooting a 65 to take the lead and surpassing Jack Nicklaus' record for most first-round leads at the Masters. Rose's performance sets him up well, aiming to improve on his previous second-place finishes in the tournament. McIlroy, currently seven shots back from the leader, will need to regroup to stay competitive in the following rounds. The turtle incident, while light-hearted, underscored the unpredictability of the tournament.