Justin Rose profiting from his game of patience at the Masters

While the first round of the Masters belonged to the new poster boy of American golf, 21-year-old Jordan Spieth, England’s Justin Rose and Paul Casey were clinging to his shirt tail.

While the first round of the Masters belonged to the new poster boy of American golf, 21-year-old Jordan Spieth, England’s Justin Rose and Paul Casey were clinging to his shirt tail.

They all outshone world No1 Rory McIlroy, who goes into today’s second round at one under par.

Spieth, who was runner-up to Bubba Watson last year, shot an eight-under-par 64, while Rose is five under and Casey is three under.

Rose has been struggling this season but he has history with Augusta. In 10 appearances he is yet to miss the cut, has led three times and has three top-10 finishes. He could not help but think back to 2007, when he was one shot off Zach Johnson’s lead with two holes to play before his drive at the 17th hit a tree branch.

“I’ve learned a few lessons around here and I think you’ve got to learn some patience,” Rose said. “So much can happen around this course and by no means am I worried about going wire-to-wire. There are so many shots out there, especially around Amen Corner, that can ruin a scorecard. So there’s no point in getting ahead of yourself.”

The 34-year-old went out in the company of defending champion Watson and said he was fired up by the hullaballoo that surrounds the eccentric left-hander.

“The crowd and the energy and atmosphere that you normally get towards the back end of a golf tournament, I felt I had that feeling early,” Rose said. “It was just a nice bit of adrenalin to kick-start my game.”

Rose hooked his drive at the second into the trees, then played two miraculous shots to save par. He smashed a big looping slice with a five-wood through a gap in the trees back to the fairway, then sent a 30-yard hook with a nine-iron soaring to the green.

“I said to Bubba, ‘I’m playing Bubba golf’,” said Rose. Hardly, he was more consistent than the American, who shot one under. Rose only missed one fairway and two greens in regulation — form that augurs well for today’s second round.

Casey put his fast start down to years of playing rounds here with former Masters champions and picking their brains. “I’ve been fortunate to play with Tiger Woods, Ben Crenshaw, Ray Floyd and Bernhard Langer,” he said. “I’ve seen enough of the wily champions to know, or witness how, they have got around here.”

McIlroy’s round went awry as early as the second hole in the first round. A hook into the trees left him fighting to save par. He was one over par through 12 holes but rescued his day with birdies at the par-five 13th and 15th.

“It could have been a round that got away from me,” McIlroy said. “It was good to get into red numbers after day one and I feel with the way I’m driving the ball, if I can keep doing that and just be a little more patient with my iron play and give myself more opportunities, I’ll hope to be right there at the end of the week.”

His driving was his main weapon. He hit 13 out of 14 fairways. But, as McIlroy admitted, it was his iron play that let him down, missing six greens in regulation. “It was a tricky day,” McIlroy said. “The wind was swirling a little bit. Pin positions were tough. Anything under par I felt was a good score. Pretty satisfied.”