Justin Rose Leads Masters by Three Shots, Rory McIlroy Falls Seven Behind

In the opening round of the Masters, Justin Rose surged ahead with a remarkable 7-under 65, taking a three-shot lead over a group that includes defending champion Scottie Scheffler. Rose's strong performance featured six birdies and just one bogey, marking his best start at the Masters and putting him in a prime position to secure his first Green Jacket. Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy began his round strongly at 4-under par but faltered late, carding two double bogeys in the final three holes to finish at even par, seven shots behind the leader. McIlroy's struggles came as a disappointment, given his recent successes on the PGA Tour, and he now faces an uphill battle to improve his standing. The stark contrast in their performances has left fans eager to see if McIlroy can bounce back in the following rounds while Rose aims for his first Masters victory. Historically, McIlroy's chances of overcoming such a deficit after the first round are slim, with only two players in the last two decades achieving this feat after finishing outside the top ten.