Rose rises to Masters lead while Rory sinks with late double bogeys

AUGUSTA, Ga. — The golf people—and the odds people—told us if this 89th Masters isn’t won by Rory McIlroy, then it will be won by Scottie Scheffler. 

Perhaps we better save a space for Justin Rose. He twice has finished second in the Masters, and after shooting a 7-under par, 65, Thursday, he has the lead in this year’s opening round.

You know the famous advice that the Masters won’t be decided until the back nine Sunday.

We have many miles to go and holes to play just to get to Friday, so it is a bit premature even to think that Rose is finally going to get the victory he just missed in 2015, when Jordan Spieth won, or 2017, when Sergio Garcia came out on top.

However, he certainly is going to be a factor and even more than Scheffler, who going for a second consecutive title at Augusta, shot a 4 under 68, and McIlroy, 72, who ruined his round with double bogeys at both 15 and 17.

There is no sport quite like golf where you can give back what you just took, as befell McIlroy, who chipped into the water on the par-5 15th, a frequent birdie hole, and then three-putted 17.

That the 35-year-old McIlroy refused to talk to the media after the round was both unfortunate and normally unusual.  He’s usually quite communicative and promotionally minded, although he went silent after blowing short putts that cost him a chance at the US Open at Pinehurst.

True, with 54 holes remaining, he is not out of this Masters. Still, as he tries to win the one event that has kept him from completing the personal grand slam, Rory again seems befuddled. His disappointment has persisted even since he held first place in the 2011 Masters and then shot 80 in the final round.

So, if this is not to be more of the same, Rory must regain his composure and his touch.  

Rose has gone through his own bit of frustration here at Augusta. But Thursday, when the temperature climbed to 70 degrees, Justin had only one bogey, at 18. 

“It was a really good day’s golf on a golf course that was a stern test,” said Rose. “I think if you look at the overall leaderboard, not many low scores out there. A lot of quality shots, and delighted the way I played.” 

As he should be.