Masters update: Justin Rose, Trevor Immelman share first-round lead at Augusta

From WorldGolf.com News Services

Not even a slow start could keep Justin Rose from continuing what is becoming his very own Masters tradition.

Rose opened with a 4-under-par 68 Thursday to share the first-round lead with Trevor Immelman at Augusta National Golf Club. For Rose, this marks his third straight Masters start in which he's entered the second round atop the leaderboard or tied for the lead, previously accomplishing the feat in 2004 and 2007.

As for his track record of fast starts at Augusta, Rose said he thinks it's simply a matter of anticipation and preparation.

"I obviously work hard before it, get myself up for it and it's obviously an important tournament," Rose told reporters. "I think the early part of the year, you set your schedule up well around it, peaking for this event, and I feel that I was kind of doing that.

"I knew my game was getting close and the extra atmosphere and adrenaline and nerves - that sort of brought out the best in me."

Rose said it never gets old, seeing his name on the leaderboard at the Masters.

"I think that's the magic about this place is that you never tire of it and it can be your 20th year and you drive up Magnolia Lane as if it's your first time," Rose said. "It's like, wow, you still get that special feeling and obviously that's helping me get really fired up to play some good golf."

Rose and Immelman own a one-stroke lead over Brian Bateman, Brandt Snedeker and Lee Westwood. Defending Masters champion Zach Johnson (70) leads a group of five players tied for sixth, including Jim Furyk, Ian Poulter, Robert Karlsson and Stephen Ames.

Poulter had the shot of the day, recording a hole-in-one at No. 16.

Four-time Masters champion Tiger Woods is tied for 20th at even-par 72, needing an eagle chip-in at No. 15 to offset bogeys on holes 13 and 14 as he failed to make a single birdie at Augusta for the first time since the opening round of the 2003 tournament. Two-time green jacket winner Phil Mickelson is tied for 12th at 1-under 71.

Rose didn't figure to be anywhere close to the lead after bogeys at Nos. 2 and 4 left him 2 over four holes into his round. However, the 27-year-old Englishman closed his front nine with four consecutive birdies and added back-to-back birdies at Nos. 12 and 13.

"Being 2 over after four, maybe wouldn't have expected to have shot 68, but obviously I wasn't really thinking about my score," Rose said. "I think that's probably the reason why I managed to obviously turn it around. I was trying to stay patient and play shot for shot."

Despite being the only other player besides Woods to finish in the top 12 at all four major tournaments in 2007, it's up to Rose to figure out a way to finally close the deal.

In 2004, Rose led the Masters at the halfway point before faltering. Last year, he remained in the hunt until Sunday before falling out of contention late, faltering in yet another bid to win his first major.

"The trick is you sit there now, top of the leaderboard up there and hopefully that's what I've learned the last few years is that there are 54 holes left," Rose said. "You've got to stay in the moment right until, let's say, the back nine Sunday."

Unlike Rose, Immelman has enjoyed limited success in his previous Masters starts. He had finished just one of his previous 16 rounds at Augusta under par before posting his bogey-free round with a pair of birdies on each side.

Perhaps it's no coincidence that Rose, Poulter and Immelman all traveled together from their Florida homes to Augusta last month to practice.

"We live a couple yards away from each other down in Lake Nona ... and came up here for two days and [we] had an absolute ball," Immelman said. "Any time you play this course, you learn something new and so that time was well spent, and it was a great experience for us."

After hearing the roar of the crowd following Poulter's hole-in-one, Immelman said he and his caddie had a good chuckle when they realized who had made the ace. He also realized that all three of the neighbors were playing well.

"Yeah, it's a great coincidence," Immelman said. "Hopefully we keep it going."

April 11, 2008