Rory McIlroy completed golf's career Grand Slam with a tearful Masters victory on Sunday, sinking a tense four-foot birdie putt on the first hole of a sudden death playoff to defeat Justin Rose.
Full leaderboard of the Masters
World number two McIlroy snapped an 11-year major win drought despite squandering the solo lead three times in the final round, weeping as he finally captured the green jacket that so long eluded him.
"It feels incredible," McIlroy said. "This is my 17th time here. I was wondering if it would ever be my time. I'm thrilled and so proud to be able to call myself a Masters champion."
McIlroy joined Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Gary Player, Gene Sarazen and Ben Hogan as the only players to win all four majors.
"The last 10 years coming here with the burden of the Grand Slam on my shoulders and trying to achieve that, I'm sort of wondering what we're all going to talk about going into next year's Masters," McIlroy said.
Needing a par on the 72nd hole to win, McIlroy plunked his approach at the par-4 18th into a greenside bunker, blasted out to five feet but then missed a tension-packed par putt, the ball going left of the hole as the crowd groaned.
"My battle today was with myself," McIlroy said. "How I responded to setbacks, that's what I'll take from this week."
That set up the playoff at the 18th, which Rose had birdied from 20 feet in regulation.
Rose dropped his approach 15 feet from the hole but McIlroy then landed his second shot four feet from the pin.
Tension built as Rose missed right of the hole and tapped in for par, leaving McIlroy a second chance to win and make history.
This time, McIlroy's stroke was true and the emotions exploded after 10 prior failed attempts to complete a career Slam at Augusta National.
"I've dreamed about that moment for as long as I can remember," McIlroy said.
As the crowd roared, McIlroy grabbed his head, sank to his knees and put his head down on the 18th green and began crying.
"There was a lot of pent up emotion that came out on that 18th green," McIlroy said. "A moment like that makes all the years and all the close calls worth it."
McIlroy recalled when he led by four strokes in 2011 seeking his first major at age 21 only to collapse on the back nine at shoot 80.
"I would say it was 14 years in the making, from going out with a four-shot lead in 2011 and feeling I could have done something there," McIlroy said.
McIlroy hugged caddie Harry Diamond, put his head down and hands on his knees and wept again. He stepped off the green and hugged his wife and daughter, again crying as emotions poured out while the crowd chanted his name.
In addition to the champion's green jacket, McIlroy received a record $4.2 million winner's prize from a record $21 million purse.
The 35-year-old from Northern Ireland endured a nightmare start, back-nine collapse and the 72nd-hole bogey to secure his fifth major title in epic fashion with an iconic day-long fightback for the ages.
"It's the best day of my golfing life," McIlroy said. "I'm very proud of myself for never giving up and always fighting back."
McIlroy, who had not won a major since the 2014 PGA Championship, fired a one-over par 73 in the final round to finish 72 holes on 11-under 277 alongside Rose, who shot a closing 66 with birdies on six of the last eight holes.
The Masters hung on a knife's edge with Rose and McIlroy level at 10-under when McIlroy, who plunked a third shot into Rae's Creek and double-bogeyed the par-five 13th then bogeyed 14, birdied the par-five 15th to regain the lead.
Rose replied with a birdie at 18 but with history on the line, McIlroy blasted his approach at the par-four 17th to two feet and tapped in for birdie to reclaim the lead - albeit briefly.
It was part of the back-and-forth that began when McIlroy opened with a double-bogey to surrender his two-shot lead, then briefly fell behind playing partner Bryson DeChambeau.
McIlroy then benefitted from two-shot swings on the next two holes for a three-shot lead and birdied the ninth to leap four ahead, holding on through the wild back nine to claim his third title of the year after The Players Championship and the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, giving him 29 career US PGA Tour triumphs.
- AFP
2025-04-14 01:28:57
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He is the sixth player to win a Grand Slam joining South Africa's Gary Player.2025-04-14 01:16:50
Rory McIlroy is the 89th Masters champion!
He wins his first Major in 11 years and completes his career Grand Slam!
2025-04-14 01:12:59
Both find the green but McIlroy's is closer to the pin and this time, he won't miss again...
2025-04-14 00:58:05
In 2017...2025-04-14 00:53:49
Oh dear! The drama continues at Augusta, Rory McIlroy misses the four-feet putt! He bogeys the 18th to finish tied for the lead on 11-under.
We're going to a playoff - McIlroy v Justin Rose
2025-04-14 00:50:22
McIlroy finds the bunker but gets it close to the pin! He has a reasonable putt to make par as he is a shot away from wearing the green jacket!
History in the making!
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ONE HOLE TO GO!
McIlroy poised to join Gary Player among others to achieve a career Grand Slam with a win at Augusta.
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Rose shares the lead at the Masters to end his tournament on 11-under par.
What a tournament from the Englishman. McIlroy has two holes left!
2025-04-13 23:58:54
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McIlroy bogeys the 14th to drop to 10-under!
Justin Rose leads the Masters at 11-under par...
2025-04-13 23:43:59
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Drama! McIlroy shoots a double bogey on the 13th AND Justin Rose birdies the 14th.
There's a tie for the Masters lead on 11-under.
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Solid title defence from Scheffler2025-04-13 23:25:32
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McIlroy is unstoppable and leads by four with eight remaining...2025-04-13 22:59:33
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Luck is on Rory's side... he is edging closer to the green jacket to complete the career Grand Slam.2025-04-13 21:58:42
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McIlroy has a three-shot lead, he birdies the fourth as DeChambeau bogeys.
2025-04-13 21:29:59
Final round completed:
South Africa's sole golfer to make the cut, Charl Schwartzel finished his final round with an even-par 72.
Schwartzel, the 2011 Masters champion, is currently tied for 38th and finished on two-over for the tournament.
Image: Getty
2025-04-13 21:19:27Things are heating up! McIlroy retakes the lead with a birdie on the third as DeChambeau drops a shot.2025-04-13 21:09:43
We have a new leader!2025-04-13 20:50:55
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Rory McIlroy opens with a double bogey in the opening hole, three-putting the par-4.
Bryson DeChambeau makes par.
Both are leading the Masters!
2025-04-13 20:33:12
Leader by two Rory McIlroy and second-place Bryson DeChambeau are off! The final round of the Masters is truly under way!
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Aren't we all?!2025-04-13 19:42:23
2025-04-13 18:59:46
2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel is tied for 37th on one-over. He is one-under through his first seven holes.
Leaders Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau will tee off at 20:30 (SA time).
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McIlroy leads by two heading into Masters final round
Rory McIlroy charged to the Masters lead with a historic start to Saturday's third round, then finished strong on Augusta National's back nine to stand two clear atop the leaderboard heading into the final round.
McIlroy had two eagles and four birdies in a six-under-par 66 and with a 12-under total of 204 was two strokes clear of Bryson DeChambeau.
McIlroy is poised to strike for a long-coveted green jacket that would see him join Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as the only players to complete a career Grand Slam.
McIlroy's first eagle of the day was at the par-five second, part of six straight threes to open his round - a first in Masters history.
His second eagle at the par-five 15th, where he stuck his approach six feet from the pin, was the first of the day there and pushed his lead back to four strokes after it had dwindled to one thanks to bogeys at the eighth and 10th.
He'll play in the final group on Sunday with DeChambeau, who out-dueled McIlroy in the final round at Pinehurst last year to lift his second US Open title.
DeChambeau birdied three of the last four holes for a three-under 69 and a 10-under total of 206.
Canadian Corey Conners was alone in third after a two-under-par 70 for 208 - two strokes clear of former Masters champion Patrick Reed and last year's runner-up Ludvig Aberg.
McIlroy, who started the day two strokes behind overnight leader Justin Rose, needed just two holes to catapult himself past Rose and DeChambeau - who were just finishing up on the first green when McIlroy chipped in from 18 yards out at the second.
He had taken advantage of a monster drive at the first, where he rolled in a 10-foot putt to secure a birdie.
Dream start
"Obviously it was a dream start," McIlroy said. "Hit two perfect shots on one and converted. Felt like I hit three perfect shots on two, three perfect shots on three.
"As well, from finishing yesterday afternoon to teeing off today, it's quite a long time. There's a lot of nervous anticipation and anxious energy that builds up. You just want to get out there and play.
"With all of that, to go out and start the way I did was amazing."
McIlroy added a seven-foot birdie at the third parred the par-three fourth, drilled an 18-foot birdie at the fifth, then parred the par-three sixth.
The run of threes on his scorecard ended at the par-four seventh, where he was deep in the trees off the tee and muscled a mighty second shot 152 yards to the left of the green, from where he got up and down for par.
He led by as many as four before his first bogey of the day at the par-five eighth, which was followed by another bogey at 10.
"I had that little bit of a wobble around the turn there with the bogey on eight, the missed chance on nine and the three-putt on 10," he said, adding that his par putt on 11 was a "huge" momentum builder, as was a birdie at the 13th.
McIlroy's blistering start had eclipsed a strong opening for DeChambeau, who rolled in a 35-foot birdie putt at the first and two-putted for birdie at the second but still found himself trailing.
Even for the day through 14 holes, DeChambeau started his late push with a five-foot birdie at the 15th.
He drilled a birdie putt at the par-three 16th and then drained a 48-foot putt from the fringe at the last.
Not the end
"Thats fun," DeChambeau said. "That's what dreams are made of right there.
"Now it's Saturday, right? So, I have to tell myself, okay, calm down, this is not the end."
Conners, playing alongside McIlroy, had some trouble getting going as McIlroy was burning up the front nine.
But he strung together three straight birdies at eight, nine and 10 to put himself in the hunt for a first major title.
It was a disappointing day for Rose, who battled to a three-over-par 75 that left him seven strokes back, tied with defending champion Scottie Scheffler, Jason Day and Shane Lowry.
Scheffler had to grind to an even-par 72 that featured two birdies and two bogeys.
"At times I felt good, at times I felt bad," said Scheffler, who came into the week hoping to join Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Woods as the only back-to-back Masters winners.
"I just couldn't really get anything going. I think I ended up with even, which felt like I had to scramble a lot today, actually."
- AFP
Third-round scores on Saturday in the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club:
204 - Rory McIlroy (NIR) 72-66-66
206 - Bryson DeChambeau (USA) 69-68-69
208 - Corey Conners (CAN) 68-70-70
210 - Patrick Reed (USA) 71-70-69, Ludvig Aberg (SWE) 68-73-69
211 - Justin Rose (ENG) 65-71-75, Scottie Scheffler (USA) 68-71-72, Shane Lowry (IRL) 71-68-72, Jason Day (AUS) 70-70-71
212 - Im Sung-Jae (KOR) 71-70-71, Zach Johnson (USA) 72-74-66, Xander Schauffele (USA) 73-69-70, Nicols Echavarra (COL) 73-70-69
213 - Viktor Hovland (NOR) 71-69-73, Max Homa (USA) 74-70-69, Collin Morikawa (USA) 72-69-72
214 - Tyrrell Hatton (ENG) 69-70-75, Tom Hoge (USA) 72-72-70, Davis Thompson (USA) 71-73-70, Matt McCarty (USA) 71-68-75
215 - Jordan Spieth (USA) 73-73-69, Max Greyserman (USA) 71-75-69, An Byeong-Hun (KOR) 74-71-70, Rasmus Hojgaard (DEN) 73-67-75
216 - Jon Rahm (ESP) 75-71-70, Harris English (USA) 70-73-73, Michael Kim (USA) 71-71-74, Maverick McNealy (USA) 72-73-71, Joaquin Niemann (CHI) 72-74-70
217 - Bubba Watson (USA) 71-72-74, Daniel Berger (USA) 71-73-73, Denny McCarthy (USA) 71-75-71, Davis Riley (USA) 73-69-75, Sahith Theegala (USA) 72-72-73, Tommy Fleetwood (ENG) 73-69-75, Aaron Rai (ENG) 70-74-73
218 - Matthew Fitzpatrick (ENG) 71-73-74, Charl Schwartzel (RSA) 74-72-72, Tom Kim (KOR) 73-73-72, Sam Burns (USA) 73-70-75, Nick Taylor (CAN) 73-71-74
219 - Danny Willett (ENG) 75-71-73, Stephan Jger (GER) 72-74-73, Brian Harman (USA) 71-71-77, Patrick Cantlay (USA) 74-72-73, JT Poston (USA) 74-72-73, Wyndham Clark (USA) 76-68-75
220 - Hideki Matsuyama (JPN) 73-68-79, Justin Thomas (USA) 73-71-76, J.J. Spaun (USA) 74-72-74, Min Woo Lee (AUS) 71-72-77
221 - Brian Campbell (USA) 72-73-76, Akshay Bhatia (USA) 70-76-75
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2011 Masters champion and sole South African to make the cut, Charl Schwartzel ended his third round, posting an even-par 72 to sit tied for 43rd on two-over par.
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Sizzling start lifts McIlroy to Masters lead
Rory McIlroy opened birdie-eagle to seize a one-stroke lead in Saturday's third round of the Masters, where the Northern Ireland star seeks an historic win at Augusta National.
Two off the pace to start the day, McIlroy catapulted himself past overnight leader Justin Rose and Bryson DeChambeau - who tied Rose at eight-under with a birdie at the first.
But the final pair of Rose and DeChambeau were finishing up on the first green when McIlroy gained the lead, holing out from 18 yards at the par-five second.
McIlroy, tied with Corey Conners to start the day, had taken advantage of a monster drive at the first, where he rolled in a 10-foot putt to secure a birdie.
It was a scintillating start to a day that Rose said would require patience above all on a course where birdie opportunities abound but over-aggressive play can be quickly punished.
"You need patience around this golf course. You also need to know when and where to be aggressive," Rose told CBS as he prepped for the round.
"It's simple, but it isn't always that simple," added Rose, who led the Masters through 36 holes for the third time but earned his lone major title to date 12 years ago at the US Open.
His patience was clearly set to be tested.
Defending champion Scottie Scheffler started the day three shots off the lead and tied with former British Open champion Shane Lowry, Tyrrell Hatton and Matt McCarty.
The 16 players within five strokes of the halfway lead included nine major champions.
Scheffler gained ground with a birdie at the par-five second as major winners Collin Morikawa and Jason Day also made quick inroads with early birdies.
Former Masters champion Zach Johnson, who made the cut on the number at two-over, was showing just what was possible.
Johnson, 49, streaked up the leaderboard with an eagle and six birdies to reach seven-under for the round through 16 holes and put himself among the top five.
South Korean Im Sung-jae quickly joined Johnson in reaching five-under when he holed out for eagle from off the green at the par-five second.
Jon Rahm, the 2023 Masters champion from Spain who also started two-over, birdied the first three holes and was four-under for the day through 16.
- AFP
2025-04-12 21:18:10
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McIlroy takes the lead with an eagle!2025-04-12 20:39:37
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Schwartzel is now one-under through the front nine, let's see how he finishes on moving day...
He is tied for 41st at one-over par.
2025-04-12 18:09:54
2025-04-12 18:06:35Schwartzel is two-under through four holes in the third round. He is even par - eight adrift from leader Justin Rose, who tees off at 20:40 (SA time).2025-04-12 16:47:32The sole South African to make the cut, 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel will tee off in the third round at 17:10 (SA time).2025-04-11 22:26:23
McIlroy, DeChambeau charge as Rose clings to Masters lead
Justin Rose clung to a one-stroke lead over Bryson DeChambeau after Friday's second round of the 89th Masters while Rory McIlroy leaped into contention with a stunning back-nine charge at Augusta National.
Rose, who led by three after 18 holes, made four birdies and three bogeys to shoot 71, leaving the 44-year-old Englishman on eight-under 136 after 36 holes.
"In a great position going into the weekend," Rose said.
McIlroy, undone by double bogeys on two of the last four holes Thursday, reeled off three birdies and an eagle on the back nine and made a tense five-foot par putt at 18 to shoot a bogey-free six-under-par 66 and stand two adrift of Rose.
"I just had to remind myself I was playing well. I couldn't let two bad holes dictate the 16 good ones," McIlroy said.
"To finish bogey-free for today I felt was really important."
The four-time major winner from Northern Ireland, who shares third on 138 with Canada's Corey Conners, would complete a career Grand Slam by winning the Masters and capturing his first major title since 2014.
He has failed in 10 prior bids to complete the Slam by taking the green jacket.
"I have to remind myself I have the experience," McIlroy said.
"Every year I come back to this golf course I feel more and more comfortable. I have to remember 34 of the 36 holes I've played have been good stuff."
DeChambeau, who beat McIlroy in a 72nd-hole battle to capture last year's US Open, birdied four of the first eight holes then answered a bogey at the par-three 16th with a 19-foot birdie putt at the 17th and made a tricky eight-footer for par at 18 to shoot 68.
"I was just patient. I knew it was going to be a testing windy day," DeChambeau said.
"Placed the ball beautifully on greens for the most part. I thought I played some incredible golf.
"I saved par there (at 18) and grinded it out and that's what I was most proud about."
The American, who also won the 2020 US Open, said he made a breakthrough in the round.
"I feel like I found something out there on the course today where I can control the ball better," he warned.
Top-ranked defending champion Scottie Scheffler, playing in the windiest conditions, had four bogeys and three birdies on the back nine to shoot 71 and share fifth on 139.
At 18, Scheffler found left bushes off the tee, went over the green on his third and made bogey to fall three behind Rose.
"Definitely the winds were up this afternoon, which made it pretty challenging," Scheffler said.
"To get in at one-under felt good. Didn't have my A-game but managed to stay in the tournament."
Scheffler, who also won the 2022 Masters, is trying to join Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Nick Faldo as the only back-to-back Masters champions.
England's Tyrrell Hatton, who had five birdies in a nine-hole stretch through 15, moved within one of Rose but three-putt bogeys at 16 and 17 left him on 70 and in the 139 pack with Scheffler, Ireland's Shane Lowry and American Matt McCarty.
"Naturally disappointed," Hatton said. "I have four dropped shots and probably three out of the four shouldn't really have happened."
Rose, the 2013 US Open champion, was pleased to be part of a world-class leaderboard."That's the company that I expect to keep," Rose said.
"This is nice, to be back in that mix."
World number two McIlroy, however, was the most electrifying player, starting with a six-foot birdie putt at the second after finding trees off the tee. Seven crucial pars followed.
"I had to remind myself not to push too hard too early," McIlroy said. "I feel like I've learned from my mistakes. I've learned not to push too hard on that front nine on Friday."
McIlroy landed approaches to two feet at 10 and five feet at 11 to set up birdies, then blasted his second shot at the par-five 13th from pine straw to nine feet and sank the eagle putt."That was good," McIlroy said of the 214-yard approach.
"It was good to commit to that putt as well."McIlroy added an amazing par save from trees at 14 and a two-putt birdie from 90 feet at 15.
- AFP
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SA Players Update
Charl Schwartzel is currently tied for 48th. He shot an even-par second round and is +2.
Thriston Lawrence is tied for 93rd. He finished the second round 4 over par and is +11.
Christiaan Bezuidenhout is tied for 81st. He was 3 over for the second round and is +7.
2025-04-11 19:40:38
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2025-04-11 18:59:00
2025-04-11 18:52:57Thriston Lawrence of South Africa chips to the second green during the second round of the 2025 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2025 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
2025-04-11 18:49:36
2025-04-11 18:17:44
SA Players Update
Charl Schwartzel is currently tied for 42nd. He is still +1 overall and -1 for the second round so far, going through Hole 12.
Thriston Lawrence is 92nd. He is +10 overall and +3 for the second round going through Hole 15.
Christiaan Bezuidenhout is tied for 79th. He is +6 overall and +3 for the second round at Hole 13.
IMAGE: Charl Schwartzel of South Africa plays his shot from the first tee during the second round of the 2025 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
2025-04-11 18:12:48
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Rose keeps three-shot Masters lead as Aberg, DeChambeau charge
Justin Rose kept a three-stroke lead after playing the front nine early in Friday's second round of the 89th Masters with Rory McIlroy, Ludvig Aberg and reigning US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau in hot pursuit.
Rose fired a seven-under par 65 on Thursday to equal his best career round at Augusta National and grab a three-stroke lead over top-ranked defending champion Scottie Scheffler, Canada's Corey Conners and Sweden's Aberg.
"It was a really good day's golf on a golf course that was a stern test," Rose said.
"Delighted the way I played."
The 44-year-old Englishman continued his solid shotmaking by adding morning birdies at the par-five second and eighth holes against a bogey at the par-three sixth to stand on eight-under through nine.
Aberg, a Masters runner-up last year in his major debut, made a six-foot birdie putt at the third to share second on five-under.
Reigning US Open champion DeChambeau, who began the day fifth with England's Tyrrell Hatton on 69, sank a seven-foot birdie putt at the second and holed out from a bunker from 36 feet to birdie the par-three fourth to match Aberg at five-under.
Overnight rain softened Augusta National but overcast skies cleared as Rose teed off in Friday's seventh group, testing the formidable layout in sunny and calm conditions.
Rose, the 2013 US Open winner and 2016 Rio Olympic champion, birdied the first three holes on Thursday but opened with a tap-in par Friday after a 35-foot pitch.
At the second, Rose found a greenside bunker with his second shot, blasted out to 14 feet and sank the birdie putt to reach eight-under and lead by four shots.
Rose was 54 yards short off the tee at the par-three fourth but pitched to five feet and sank his downhill par putt, only to be short of the fifth green as well and pitch 15 feet left of the hole before missing the putt for his first bogey of the day.
After parring six and seven, Rose dropped his third shot five feet from the hole at the eighth and sank the birdie putt before making another par to reach the turn.
Four-time major winner McIlroy, trying to recover after stumbling to an opening 72, blasted out of trees at the second then dropped his approach to six feet and sank the birdie putt. He was one-under through four holes.
A victory by second-ranked McIlroy would give him a career Grand Slam but the Northern Ireland star made double bogeys on two of the last four holes Thursday to fall back.
South Korea's Im Sung-jae began with back-to-back birdies and stood three-under after six holes.
England's Matt Fitzpatrick, the 2022 US Open champion, made a 33-foot eagle putt at the second and birdied seven to reach three-under.US first-time starter Matt McCarthy was on two-under after closing the front nine with four consecutive birdies.
Third-ranked Xander Schauffele, the 2024 PGA Championship and Open Championship winner, birdied the third to reach level par overall.
Contenders among the later starters Friday include Conners, Scheffler and Hatton.
Scheffler, who also won a green jacket in 2022, is trying to join Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Nick Faldo as the only back-to-back Masters champions and match Nicklaus as the only players to capture three green jackets in a four-year span.
World number four Collin Morikawa, a two-time major winner who opened on 72 despite bogeys on three of the last four holes, was also set for a late start.
- AFP
2025-04-11 17:03:16Christiaan Bezuidenhout of South Africa during the second round of the 2025 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
2025-04-11 16:56:57
2025-04-11 16:27:34Justin Rose of England waves after making birdie on the second green during the second round of the 2025 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
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SA Players Update
Charl Schwartzel is currently tied for 49th. He is still +2 and has shot an even par second round so far going through Hole 3.
Thriston Lawrence is 94th. He is +8 overall and +1 for the second round going through Hole 6.
Christiaan Bezuidenhout is is tied for 60th. He is +3 overall but -1 for the second round at Hole 4.
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Masters leader Rose set for early charge in round two
Masters leader Justin Rose made an early start in Friday's second round of the 89th Masters, trying to stretch his three-stroke edge after an opening seven-under 65 at Augusta National.
Overnight rain offered the field of 95 hope for a softened layout under the Georgia pines and more receptive greens than the usual lightning-fast and undulating putting surfaces.
Rose matched his best career score in 71 Masters rounds to surge atop the leaderboard with top-ranked defending champion Scottie Scheffler, Canada's Corey Conners and Sweden's Ludvig Aberg sharing second on 68.
Rose, the 2013 US Open winner and 2016 Rio Olympic champion, teed off alongside Americans J.J. Spaun and Max Homa in the seventh group of the morning.
The 44-year-old Englishman began Thursday with three birdies, added three more on holes eight through 10 and back-to-back birdies on 15 and 16 before a closing bogey.
"It was a really good day's golf on a golf course that was a stern test," Rose said. "I think if you look at the overall leaderboard, not many low scores out there. You had to hit a lot of quality shots, and delighted the way I played."
Scheffler, who also won a green jacket in 2022, is trying to join Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Nick Faldo as the only back-to-back Masters champions.
"I felt pretty good," Scheffler said of his bogey-free first round. "Anytime you can keep a card clean out here, it's a really good thing."
Aberg, a Masters runner-up last year in his major debut, starts alongside American Akshay Bhatia and four-time major winner Rory McIlroy.
A victory by world number two McIlroy would give him a career Grand Slam but the Northern Ireland star stumbled late in a 72 on day one with double bogeys on two of the final four holes after starting four-under through 14.
McIlroy has failed in 10 prior attempts to complete the career Slam by capturing the green jacket.
Reigning US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, who shared fifth with England's Tyrrell Hatton on 69, was set to start one group behind Aberg and McIlroy.
"I feel like I've got a golf swing that is favorable right now. It's just not dialed in like I want it to be," DeChambeau said.
"Anytime you're under par at the Masters, it's an honor to be there. Give myself a good chance going into the weekend. Hopefully I can set myself up on Saturday and give myself a chance on Sunday."
World number four Collin Morikawa, a two-time major winner, opened on 72 after following an eagle at 13 with bogeys on three of the last four holes. He makes a late start Friday.
"I tried to stay patient out there. I was kind of scrambling around a lot," Morikawa said. "Tough to finish like that but even par still feels really good."
Another early Friday starter is 2024 PGA Championship and Open Championship winner Xander Schauffele, who opened with a 73.
Hiroshi Tai, the first player from Singapore in the Masters, was the low amateur for 18 holes on 73.
"Biggest adjustment is just getting enough rest and taking a couple more breaths when I hit," Tai said.
- AFP
2025-04-11 13:23:26
South African tee times for the second round at Augusta:
14:02 - Jose Maria Olazabal, Thriston Lawrence, Brian Campbell
14:24 - Tom Hoge, Matt McCarty, Christiaan Bezuidenhout
14:35 - Charl Schwartzel, Denny McCarthy, Hiroshi Tai (a)
2025-04-11 06:37:32
Rose rockets to Masters lead, defending champ Scheffler in pursuit
Justin Rose fired a scorching seven-under-par 65 on Thursday to take the first-round lead at the Masters, three strokes clear of a trio led by defending champion Scottie Scheffler.
Rose flirted with the Augusta National course record of 63, clenching his fist in celebration after draining a 19-foot birdie putt at the 16th to reach eight-under.
Wayward drives left him in the trees at 17 and 18 and after salvaging one par, Rose closed with his first bogey of the day but still emerged as the first-round Masters leader for a fifth time.
Rose, who has never managed to parlay the first-round lead into a green jacket, was three strokes clear of world number one Scheffler, last year's runner-up Ludvig Aberg and Canadian Corey Conners.
Rory McIlroy was four-under through 14 holes, but two double bogeys in the space of three holes saw the Northern Ireland star finish on even par 72 - well adrift in his latest bid for a Masters title that would complete his career Grand Slam.
Rose leapt out of the gate with birdies at the first three holes.
"Everything was going exactly where I was looking," Rose said, adding that his 25-foot birdie at the first was "exactly what you need to settle yourself into the Masters."
He then grabbed three more birdies at the eighth, ninth and 10th."That's when the day felt a bit different," Rose said. "That's when I felt I was doing something potentially more on the special side."
He added birdies at 15 and 16 before errant tee shots left him in the trees at 17 and 18, but a bogey at the last was not worth dwelling on, Rose said.
"It was a really good day's golf on a golf course that was a stern test," Rose said. "I think if you look at the overall leaderboard, not many low scores out there."
Scheffler, trying to join Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods as the only players to win two straight Masters titles, was his usual unflappable self in producing a bogey-free four-under par 68.
"Anytime you can keep a card clean out here, it's a really good thing," Scheffler said. "I had to make two really good up-and-downs, but other than that, the golf course was in front of me most of the day, kept the ball in play, did a lot of really good things out there."
Scheffler's birdies included a 62-foot birdie putt at the fourth hole. After just missing another long birdie putt at the sixth, Scheffler got up and down for par from a bunker at the seventh.
He nabbed his third birdie of the day at the par-five eighth, where his tee shot found the first cut of rough and his second shot settled unpromisingly in a divot but he calmly rolled in a 14-foot putt.
"Just one of those deals," Scheffler said of the "pretty deep" divot. "I hit a really awesome shot to get it to about 15 feet... spun it to the right of that hill and gave myself a good look that I was able to knock it in."
Scheffler ended a run of seven straight pars with a 42-foot birdie bomb at the par-three 16th.
Sweden's Aberg claimed a share of second with a birdie at 18 - one of his four birdies in the last seven holes.
Conners birdied three of the last four holes, snaking in a 24-foot birdie putt at 17 as part of a birdie-birdie finish.
US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau and his LIV Golf colleague Tyrrell Hatton of England shared fifth on three-under-par 69.Jason Day, Harris English, Aaron Rai and Akshay Bhatia were a further stroke back on 70.
The 89th edition of the Masters opened in picture-perfect conditions, but it took an ugly turn for McIlroy.
It looked like he would buck his trend for slow starts at the Masters when he reached four-under with a birdie at the par-five 13th.
But after he saw a birdie attempt at 14 narrowly slide by, disaster struck at 15, where McIlroy's approach was over the green and his chip coming back raced past the hole and into the water for a double bogey.
In the rough at 17, McIlroy fired his approach over the green and after another disappointing chip was unable to make a six-foot bogey attempt.
Spain's 2023 Masters champion Jon Rahm was in even worse shape, posting a three-over-par 75.
Xander Schauffele, winner of the PGA Championship and Open Championship last year, carded a 73.
- AFP
2025-04-10 22:26:14
SA Players Update
Charl Schwartzel is through 14 holes and is +1. Thirston Lawrence is +8 after 16 holes and Christiaan Bezuidenhout is +4 through 14 holes.
2025-04-10 22:23:16
2025-04-10 22:22:41
2025-04-10 22:22:23
2025-04-10 20:44:50
2025-04-10 20:23:16
SA Players Update
Charl Schwartzel is through 10 holes and is even par. Thirston Lawrence is +4 after 11 holes and Christiaan Bezuidenhout is +4 through 10 holes.
IMAGE: Christiaan Bezuidenhout of South Africa watches his shot on the fourth tee as Tom Hoge of the United States looks on during the first round of the 2025 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
2025-04-10 20:21:54
2025-04-10 20:07:38
Scheffler grabs share of early lead in quest for Masters repeat
Defending champion Scottie Scheffler held a share of the lead through 12 holes at Augusta National on Thursday as Rory McIlroy teed off in the first round of the Masters.
Top-ranked Scheffler and world number two McIlroy are both chasing history in the 89th edition of the Masters, where Scheffler could join Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods as the only players to win two straight Masters titles and McIlroy could complete a career Grand Slam.
Scheffler was his unflappable self as he reached three-under par through eight holes, opening his birdie account with a four-footer at the par-five second.
He then rattled in a 62-foot birdie putt at the fourth. After just missing another long birdie putt at the sixth, Scheffler got up and down for par from a greenside bunker at the seventh.
He nabbed his third birdie of the day at the par-five eighth, where his tee shot found the first cut of rough and his second shot settled unpromisingly in a divot but he calmly rolled in a 14-foot putt.
As McIlroy teed off, Scheffler was tied at the top with England's Tyrrell Hatton and Justin Rose -- who opened with three straight birdies.
Honorary starters Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson and Gary Player got the tournament underway in picture-perfect morning conditions with barely a breath of wind stirring the Georgia pine trees.
England's Aaron Rai and Germany's Stephan Jaeger had both reached four-under par with four front-nine birdies.
Rai got his round going with a nine-foot birdie putt at the second hole and added birdies at the third, seventh and eighth before getting up and down for par from off the green at the ninth to make the turn with a one-stroke lead.
Amen Corner, Augusta National's demanding stretch of 11, 12 and 13, proved his undoing as Rai bogeyed all three.
That left Jaeger, who missed the cut in his Masters debut last year, alone top the leaderboard after four birdies on the front nine -- starting with a five-footer at the par-five second.
After birdies at the fourth and seventh, Jaeger landed his second shot from the tree outline at the ninth 10 feet from the pin and made the putt for birdie.
But his third shot at the par-five 13th hit the bank of Rae's Creek and rolled into the hazard and he finished up with a double bogey.
American Michael Kim was the first player in the clubhouse under par, posting a one-under 71.
"It's pretty tricky," Kim said, saying the course had dried out since the rain that halted Monday's practice round so that some greens were "noticeably firm on the first bounce."
"That first hole was definitely a lot firmer today than it was in the practice rounds," Kim said.
McIlroy just missed a birdie to open, his seven-foot attempt trickling away from the edge.
This year marks the 11th time McIlroy has teed it up at Augusta with a chance to join Nicklaus, Woods, Player, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen in winning all four majors.
He had the three honorary starters pulling for him, with Nicklaus saying, "It's about time that Rory won."
Nikolai Hojgaard of Denmark had a wild first round 76 that featured just four pars along with an eagle, five birdies, three double bogeys and five bogeys -- including three straight to end his round.
"Bit too much of a rollercoaster," he said.
- AFP
2025-04-10 19:41:51
2025-04-10 19:41:15
2025-04-10 19:34:58
SA Players Update
Charl Schwartzel is through six holes and is even par. Thirston Lawrence is +2 after seven holes and Christiaan Bezuidenhout is +3 through six holes.
IMAGE: Charl Schwartzel of South Africa reacts after putting on the third green during the first round of the 2025 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
2025-04-10 18:29:28Phil Mickelson of the United States chips on the second hole during the first round of the 2025 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 10, 2025 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
2025-04-10 18:11:10
2025-04-10 18:09:36
2025-04-10 17:54:22
All three South African golfers, Thirston Lawrence, Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Charl Schwartzel are now out on the course for Round 1 at Augusta.
Let's see how they fair!
2025-04-10 17:50:29Nick Dunlap of the United States prepares to play a shot from the trees on the fifth hole during the first round of the 2025 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. (Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
2025-04-10 17:48:46Scottie Scheffler of the United States prepares to play a shot from the fourth tee during the first round of the 2025 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. (Harry How/Getty Images)
2025-04-10 17:46:44
2025-04-10 17:40:17
2025-04-10 17:33:52
Scheffler launches quest for Masters repeat
World number one Scottie Scheffler launched his bid for a rare Masters repeat Thursday, parring the first hole at Augusta National as the early starters jockeyed for position in the first major golf championship of the year.
Scheffler, who also won the Masters in 2022, could join Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods as the only players to win two straight Masters titles, although the American said thoughts of joining that select club are the furthest thing from his mind.
"It's all about going out and competing now," Scheffler said as he looked forward to the opening round, which got underway with ceremonial shots from honorary starters Nicklaus, Tom Watson and Gary Player.
Scheffler and world number two Rory McIlroy dominated the conversation in the build-up to the tournament, McIlroy once again hoping to complete a career Grand Slam with his first green jacket.
- AFP
2025-04-10 17:12:20
Nicklaus, Player and Watson pick McIlroy to win Masters
Jack Nicklaus picked Rory McIlroy to win this week's Masters on Thursday after sharing advice with the world number two, and fellow honorary starters Gary Player and Tom Watson agreed.
The legends hit ceremonial shots off Augusta National's first tee before the 89th Masters began.
All like the chances of McIlroy, a four-time major winner from Northern Ireland, completing a career Grand Slam by capturing the Masters on Sunday for his first major title since 2014.
"I just have a gut feeling that Rory is the guy that's going to win this week," eight-time major winner Watson said.
McIlroy is trying to join career Grand Slam winners Nicklaus, Player, Tiger Woods, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen.
"I think Rory McIlroy will win the Masters this year and I hope he does because it would give golf a great boost to have another winner of the Grand Slam," Player said.
"He has the best swing in golf without a question. He's the fittest golfer. He does a dead lift of 400 pounds... and I think timing in life. He has had his adversities, his opportunities to win majors, and let them slip. It's just the right time for him to win now."
Nicklaus, whose record 18 major titles include a record six Masters wins, made it unanimous.
"I think the same as you two guys," Nicklaus said. "I think it's about time that Rory won."
The 85-year-old icon went over every hole at Augusta National with 35-year-old McIlroy at lunch last week.
"I said, 'Rory, I know you prepared for Augusta. Tell me how you're going to play the golf course,'" Nicklaus said.
"We went through it shot for shot. And he got done with the round, and I said, 'Well, I wouldn't change a thing. That's exactly the way I would try to play the golf course.'"
Nicklaus says McIlroy has developed the discipline in his game to avoid a stray bad hole that has undone his 10 prior attempts to complete the career Slam at Augusta National.
"The discipline to do that is what Rory has lacked," Nicklaus said. "He has got all the shots. He has got all the game. He certainly is as talented as anybody... I'm a big fan of Rory's and I like Rory a lot."
- AFP
2025-04-10 17:05:17
2025-04-10 16:37:41
2025-04-10 16:21:00Honorary Starter Jack Nicklaus of the United States plays his shot from the first tee during the first round of the 2025 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. (Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
2025-04-10 16:12:02Fred Ridley, Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club poses with Honorary Starters, Gary Player of South Africa, Jack Nicklaus of the United States and Tom Watson of the United States on the first tee during the first round of the 2025 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. (Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
2025-04-10 15:52:25
2025-04-10 14:50:00
Tee times for SA's golfers in the opening round (All SA times):
17:10 - Jose Maria Olazabal, Thriston Lawrence, Brian Campbell
17:38 - Tom Hoge, Matt McCarty, Christiaan Bezuidenhout
17:49 - Charl Schwartzel, Denny McCarthy, Hiroshi Tai (a)
2025-04-10 14:30:59
2025-04-10 13:53:26
2025-04-10 13:52:51
Ceremonial starters Nicklaus, Player and Watson open 89th Masters
Past champions Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson hit ceremonial tee shots on Thursday to open the first round of the 89th Masters.
The trio of golf legends gathered at the first tee at Augusta National to launch shots into the early morning air ahead of the start of competition in the year's first major tournament, with a field of 95 chasing the green jacket symbolizing Masters supremacy.
- AFP
2025-04-10 13:36:28
2025-04-10 13:36:08The Masters is the jewel on the golfing calendar, four days of pure golfing bliss, writes Lungani Zama. Read column2025-04-10 13:35:23
2025-04-10 13:34:39
Welcome to our coverage from the 89th Masters at Augusta National.
There are three South Africans in the field: 2011 champion Charl Schwartzel, SA's top-ranked golfer Christiaan Bezuidenhout and debutant Thriston Lawrence.
