AUGUSTA (Georgia): Seven holes into the Masters, Justin Rose was two-over par and in no position to panic.

He knew Augusta National in April was no picnic compared with the last one in November. He figured if he could get back to around even par by the end of the day he would be fine.

Rose never expected his best score in his 59 rounds at Augusta National.

No one could have seen it coming, either.

Rose made seven birdies and an eagle during a torrid 10-hole stretch for an opening seven-under 65, giving him a four-shot lead Thursday in conditions that might only get tougher the rest of the way.

“It’s incredible,” Rose said. “It’s a good reminder that you just never know what can happen out there.”

It started with a nice hop off the mounds left of the green on the par-5 eighth that set up a 10-foot eagle. Only two of his birdie putts were outside eight feet. He holed a 12-foot par putt on the one green he missed. Not bad for a 40-year-old from England playing for the first time in a month while resting an ailing back.

Twice a runner-up, including a playoff loss to Sergio Garcia four years ago, Rose tied a Masters record by taking at least a share of first-round lead for the fourth time.

Rose’s lead matched the second-best after 18 holes in Masters history, trailing only winner Craig Wood’s record five strokes from 1941.

This Masters has a much more familiar look as it is back in its traditional April slot as the year’s first major while fans were welcomed back, although in limited numbers and with protocols in place to reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission.

Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama and American Brian Harman shared second on 69. Neither has ever won a major — or any US PGA Tour event since 2017.

Sharing fourth on 70 were 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed, 2012 US Open winner Webb Simpson, Masters debutant Will Zalatoris and South African Christiaan Bezuidenhout.

Former champion Jordan Spieth, among the favorites and fresh off his win last week at the Texas Open, finished with a one-under-par 71 after a roller-coaster round that included a triple-bogey, bogey, three birdies and an eagle.

Only 12 players finished under par as mistakes were magnified around the hard-baked greens with winds adding to the intense challenge.

Top-ranked defending champion Dustin Johnson, trying to become only the fourth back-to-back winner, lipped out a two-foot putt at 18 to close with a double bogey and shoot 74.

“Conditions were very difficult,” said Johnson. “I felt like I played pretty well. The last hole left a little sour taste in my mouth.”

Four-time major winner Rory McIlroy, seeking a victory to complete a career Grand Slam, was off to his worst Masters start with a 76.

Four-time major winner Brooks Koepka, who had right knee surgery in March, opened with a 74.

Third-ranked Spaniard Jon Rahm, who only arrived Wednesday after being with his wife for the birth of their first child, closed with a bogey to shoot 72.

World number two Justin Thomas, who finished fourth at November’s Masters, was expected to lean on his stellar iron play to get in the mix but instead bogeyed three of his first seven holes en route to a one-over-par 73.

Garcia, the 2017 champion from Spain, compared his 76 to a boxing bout.

“I feel like just came out of the ring with Evander Holyfield, like a 12-round match,” he said. “I need to go home and rest.”

Also on 76 was 2020 US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, whose massive drive over the green into bushes at the par-3 fourth brought a double bogey.

England’s Lee Westwood, trying to become the oldest Masters winner at age 47 after runner-up efforts last month at Bay Hill and the Players, opened on 78.

England’s Tommy Fleetwood aced the 170-yard par-3 16th hole, the 32nd hole-in-one in Masters history, and shot 74.

Published in Dawn, April 10th, 2021