1 week Ago By TalkSPORT
talkSPORT.com brings you all the latest news, action and analysis from the 2025 Masters. Follow our live blog below for regular updates.
.. The first round of the 2025 Masters has come and gone, with Justin Rose sitting firmly at the top with a three-stroke lead.
He becomes the 26th player to lead by three shots after round 1 (since the first Masters in 1934). Ludwig Aberg must love playing at Augusta National. The Swedish golfer finished in second last year - his first-ever major - and closed this year's opening round once more tied for second at four-under par.
"It was a nice executed round of golf where it felt like we had some numbers in between and we really managed it well," Aberg told ESPN. "I thought I hung in there pretty well today and had a pretty good back nine." When asked why he has played so well in his two appearances at Augusta, he shrugged.
"I'm not sure," Aberg said. "I really like it here, I really enjoy playing this golf course. It's a really cool place to play, I really enjoy the challenge.
" While early, Rory McIlroy may have just cost himself a chance at his first green jacket. Heading to the 15th, he was just three off the lead. But after smacking his third shot in the water, he finished with a double-bogey 7 on the par-5 15th, placing him five back at 2-under-par.
He finished with an opening-round 72, finishing over par in the first round once again. McIlroy has only broken par in one of his last seven opening rounds at Augusta He is seven off the lead heading into Friday. Justin Rose is home and hosed for Day 1, he's be among the earlier starters on Friday too when he will hope to make the most of the conditions.
Rory McIlroy is in trouble after finding water on 15 - just a short while after missing a putt to get five-under-par. Justin Rose arrived at Augusta a little under the radar, despite two top 10s on the PGA Tour this year and a strong record on the rolling Georgia fairways. The Englishman fired eight birdies and was blemish free until the 18th hole, which he bogeyed for a round of 65 - his best ever round at Augusta.
Former US Open champion Rose has the unenviable record of leading (or co-leading) the Masters for the most rounds without ever going on to win a Green Jacket - and after Thursday at Augusta he looks likely to extend that record to nine rounds. Now 44, Rose has six top 10 finishes at the Masters, including second in 2015 and 2017, but after missing the cut last year he bounced back in style on Day 1. He led by four after the first round in 2021 before going on to finish 7th, he'll hope for better in 2025.
Jon Rahm was the champion here not so long ago - 2023 in fact, but he looks a long way from that form at the moment. The Spaniard, who finished in a tie for 45th on his return as defending champion last year runs the risk of missing this year's cut at the midway point of his first round. Rahm is four over par through 12 holes but sent social media into a frenzy with his drive on the 9th, which was headed for the trees and prompted him to drop his driver and then pick it up and come close to snapping it, much to the displeasure of the patrons watching on.
The 30-year-old went on to make par on the hole, but followed up with back to back bogeys that will not have done much for his mood. Remarkable story emerging from Augusta National, when the US Amateur champion is making headlines, but not for his golf. Spain's Jose Luis Ballester was coming towards the end of his round, and simply put, needed the toilet - but chose the iconic Rae's Creek alongside the 13th green , not realising there were restrooms not too far away.
“I’m like, ‘I really need to pee.’ Didn’t really know where to go and since JT [Justin Thomas] had an issue on the green, I’m like, I’m just going to sneak here in the river and probably people would not see me that much and then they clapped for me. Day 1 edging towards it's conclusion so how about a little update on the leaderboard.
.. An eighth birdie of the day from Justin Rose has him three clear of the chasing pack, that includes the defending champion.
Rory McIlroy would be a hugely popular winner -- perhaps not in America in a Ryder Cup year. The Northern Irishman is one Green Jacket away from a Grand Slam. He would join Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Ben Hogan, Gene Sarazen and Tiger Woods in an elite club of players to win all four Majors.
Shots like this will go some way to getting him there. Rory is three under through 11 -- one off the clubhouse lead and two behind Justin Rose. Player was an honorary starter today and sent McIlroy his best wishes.
“I hope he does, because it will give golf a great boost to have another winner of the Grand Slam," he said. “I think it’s about time that Rory won and I sat down with him last week,” added Nicklaus. “I said ‘I know you prepared for Augusta, tell me how you’re going to play the golf course’.
“We went through it shot for shot, we got done with the round, I didn’t open my mouth and I said ‘I wouldn’t change a thing’. That’s exactly the way I would try to play the golf course. “The discipline to do that is what Rory has lacked in my opinion.
He’s got all the shots, he’s got all the game. “He certainly is as talented as anybody in the game, but if you go back through his history in the last few years he gets to a place and all of a sudden a seven or an eight pops up and that keeps him from getting where he needs to go.” Ripping in Eagles from 191 yards at 65 years of age.
Take a bow Fred Couples. Nick Dunlap carded 74 and 77 in his first-ever Masters last year. It was not enough to make the cut, but boy would the American be happy to see a seven to start his card today.
After dropping six shots on the front nine, things only got worse with three bogeys, four doubles and two pars coming home. That was good enough for an 18-over 90. Hopefully he has the option to book an earlier flight as he is not making the weekend.
No player under 50 has carded 90 or more since 1956 -- Dunlap is the reigning PGA Tour Rookie of the Year and just 21 years old. The next-highest scorer so far is South Africa's Thriston Lawrence, who is eight over but has five holes to close the gap. Time for a look at the leaderboard and, on a course famous for its flowers, Justin Rose is the pick of the bunch as it stands.
Just the five birdies on the front nine for the Englishman! That leaves him one clear of clubhouse leader, Canada's Corey Conners. Meanwhile, defending champion Scottie Scheffler is four-under after a 40-foot birdie putt on 16. Rory McIlroy is one-under through six.
The 65-year-old buried an eagle from 191 yards out on the 14th hole. Couples carded a 1st round 71, 42 years after he did it for the first time way back in 1983. He broke the record for longest time between rounds under par, that was previously held by Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson, both at 40 years.
The 1992 Masters champion is playing in his remarkable 40th Masters tournament. The world No.1 - who happens to be gunning for a third Green Jacket in four years - has settled nicely.
According to golf statistician Justin Ray, his front nine score on -3 ties a record of his own - the lowest first nine holes by a defending champion in three decades (which he set in 2023). However the lead now belongs to Tyrrell Hatton who has just sunk his fourth birdie in his opening 12 holes to lead by one stroke from Collin Morikawa, Justin Rose and Scheffler. It has been a solid day for scoring and Augusta's famously huge green have provided some long range magic.
Scottie Scheffler made one from 62 feet earlier (see below). Then it was Brian Harman's turn to drop in from way back to go two-under through 13. Unfortunately, he then dropped two shots a hole later.
But that doesn't take away this magical stroke. Rory McIlroy has enjoyed a stellar career. But a Green Jacket is not hanging in his wardrobe.
.. yet! He has seven top-10 finishes in The Masters but bad luck and some infamous collapses have frustrated his bid to win all four Majors.
McIlroy has already won two tournaments in 2025 and says he is in peak form coming into Augusta as he prepares to tee off. "I played great at Pebble Beach. Had to do it the hard way at Sawgrass, coming back on the Monday and playing in tough conditions," McIlroy told BBC Sport NI.
"Those are great confidence builders, they are validations of the stuff I worked on at the end of last year and it shows me my game is on the right track." McIlroy was all smiles yesterday as he daughter Poppy took the limelight with a brilliant putt in the Par Three Contest. Now it is time for the 35-year-old to get it done.
Scottie Scheffler is looking in imperious form as he approaches the turn. German Stephan Jaeger currently tops the standings as he continues a bright start to 2025. Englishman Justin Rose has three birdies in as many holes.
Rory McIlroy will be teeing-off shortly as he chases an elusive Grand Slam. A quick glance through the early first page of the leaderboard shows a few of the LIV Golf League's stars shining early on. Chile's Joaquin Niemann and England's Tyrell Hatton are both at two-under-par, Laurie Canter is in that group as well, while two-time Masters champ Bubba Watson - in no real form at all - is one-under-par through his first four holes as is Sergio Garcia .
Very long way to go mind you. Meanwhile, world No.1 Scheffler has moved ominously into position at -3, one behind Germany's Stephan Jaeger who leads at -4.
2009 Masters champ Angel Cabrera has made headlines, returning to Augusta for the first time since 2019 and he is one-under-par through four holes. The Argentine, a two-time major winner, was found guilty of assault and intimidation against two of his ex-partners and served a 30-month jail sentence in his homeland. Many have criticised Augusta's decision to allow him to return to the scene of his greatest golfing hour , but Fred Ridley, chairperson of Augusta National said earlier this week.
.. "We certainly abhor domestic violence of any type," he said.
"As it relates to Angel, Angel has served the sentence that was prescribed by the Argentine courts, he is the past champion and so he was invited." Jose Luis Ballester has ensured a tough start on his Masters debut, but he's just nailed a brilliant birdie on hole six. The Spaniard was plus five coming into the par three hole.
But he produced an incredible tee-off shot to hand him the chance to nail a 12-foot putt. And he delivers in sublime style. That should settle him down a little bit.
That is unbelievable from Scottie Scheffler to move on to two under par. From the far side of the green, the American produces a ridiculous long-range putt to claim a birdie. The distance appeared to be 62 feet, and that is the shot of the day so far.
It is early days, but the defending champion looks to be more than in the mood already. Certainly, if you are in the Rory McIlroy camp, this is concerning. After completing eight holes, Aaron Rai is the man who is top of the leaderboard.
The Englishman is sitting on four under par, which is absolutely excellent. He is under pressure from Joaquin Niemann, though. The LIV Golf star has been tipped as an outside bet for the tournament and he is sitting on three under par after four holes.
Colin Morikawa is still yet to record a birdie and finds himself sitting on nought. After a poor tee shot at the start of hole two that skewed off to the right. Scottie Scheffler shows his class with a sublime chip onto the green.
That sets up a ten-yard putt for the champion, and he makes it comfortably. That puts him on one under par after two holes. Min Woo Lee has just suffered a slight mishap with his water bottle.
The Australian tried to take a drink after taking his tee shot at four, and misjudged how much was in there. So, he has basically just ended up soaking himself and turned his light blue shirt dark blue. It is starting to get hotter at Augusta, so you would expect it to dry out quite quickly.
Meanwhile, we have a new leader, with England's Aaron Rai moving on to three under par. It is very tight at the top, but Rai has made a superb start. Two holes down, and it is Joaquin Niemann who is shining from his group.
The Chilean has two birdies from the first two holes after a wonderful set up shot on hole two handed him the chance to claim a birdie, which he did. That puts Niemann joint top of the leaderboard along with several other players. In his group, Colin Morikawa is yet to record a birdie, while Min Woo Lee has one bogey and one birdie.
.
