Augusta, Georgia – For some, Justin Rose will forever be the 17 -year -old kid who almost won the championship opened in 1998. As a child at the time and, 27 years later, Bosh even now, Rose still hits the door of the main championships.
He opened the round 1 of Thursday to the Masters by going Birdie-Birdie-Birdie, going beyond everyone in the ranking- Including the world number 1 Scottie Scheffler. Five other birdies later, he had carded a 7-mine stellar of 65 to hold an advance of 3 strokes after 18 holes.
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It is a familiar terrain for Rose, which has been a constant constant for two decades – always good, although never as tall as we may expect that it was when it broke out on the stage open of 98. The expectations were probably too high, thinking that making a race for adolescence indicated that it would save them shortly after.
But, in fact, his first major victory did not come for 15 years, when he exceeded Phil Mickelson to win the US Open 2013. This victory was not so much a breakthrough for Rose as it was a relief. Unlike his compatriot Lee Westwood, he finally obtained his major.
From there, year after year, Rose set out to win another adult. In 2015, he finished T2 in Augusta, sixth at open and fourth at the PGA championship. Only once since, he finished a major season without at least a top 10, and three times more, he finished second. This includes a defeat in playoffs against Sergio Garcia at the Masters 2017.
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Put yourself near the top of the ranking enough and you will win one here and there, at least the thought goes. This was not the case for Rose, who now led to Augusta after the round 1 a fifth time. But now 44 years ago, giving him another race.
After these three Birdies to start his round, he carded three others at n ° 8, 9 and 10, then two others at 15 and 16.
The only imperfection on his map came at 18, where he led him into the trees, struck, then barely missed a 20 feet for the peer. However, it was good enough to push him three shots away from the field.
“I feel like I played well enough to win this tournament,” he said after his round. “I just have the impression that I don't have the jacket to prove it.”
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And it somewhat sums up rose's career. He played well enough to win everywhere, he didn't do it. He finished second in the PGA championship once, second in Augusta and open twice. But although the lack of equipment can be frustrating, the calls tight, he says, are in fact what makes him move forward.
“If you don't feel quite like you can do it or if you don't feel like you can play at an elite level, then practice becomes difficult,” he said. “They (tight calls) were great weeks of motivation where I thought the hard work was always worth it, always believe that I can shake it with the best.”
To get a green jacket, that's what you'll have to do. Scheffler, on a two-year-old tear, is just behind him, with the young Ludvig pistol Åberg (-4) and Corey Conrs (-4), the 21st player classified in the world. Bryson Dechambeau (-3) is also in hunting.
All are in the prime numbers of their careers, while Rose is in her self -proclaimed Indian summer.
“The golf will not become easier for me in the next five, 10 years, anything,” he said. “So your opportunity is less in the future, so you have to get the most out of it.”
