The Masters is underway for 2025 with the second round coming up on Friday.
It would have been an even stronger advantage too, had he not dropped a shot at 18 before heading back to the clubhouse.
However, defending champion and favourite Scottie Scheffler is among Rose’s closest rivals along with Ludvig Aberg and Corey Conners, with Tyrrell Hatton and Bryson DeChambeau also in the early hunt.
There was a disastrous end to the first round from the previously red-hot Rory McIlroy, with two late double bogeys in the space of four holes giving him plenty of work to do already in his bid to finally win a Green Jacket, complete the career Grand Slam and end his long 11-year wait for a fifth Major title.
What time does the Masters start today?
The first group tees off for the second round at Augusta on Friday, April 11 at 12:40pm BST, which is 7:40am local time in Georgia.
1240: Cam Davis, Rafael Campos, Austin Eckroat
1251: Angel Cabrera, Laurie Canter, Adam Schenk
1302: Jose Maria Olazabal, Thriston Lawrence, Brian Campbell
1313: Bubba Watson, Matthieu Pavon, Evan Beck (a)
1324: Tom Hoge, Matt McCarty, Christiaan Bezuidenhout
1335: Charl Schwartzel, Denny McCarthy, Hiroshi Tai (a)
1352: Max Homa, Justin Rose, J.J. Spaun
1403: Dustin Johnson, Nick Taylor, Justin Hastings (a)
1414: Sergio Garcia, Lucas Glover, Daniel Berger
1425: Patrick Cantlay, Rasmus Hojgaard, Matt Fitzpatrick
1436: Brooks Koepka, Russell Henley, Sungjae Im
1447: Adam Scott, Xander Schauffele, Viktor Hovland
1458: Rory McIlroy, Ludvig Åberg, Akshay Bhatia
1515: Hideki Matsuyama, Bryson DeChambeau, Shane Lowry
1526: Jon Rahm, Wyndham Clark, Tommy Fleetwood
1537: Sahith Theegala, Sepp Straka, Sam Burns
1548: Davis Riley, Patton Kizzire
1559: Kevin Yu, Jhonattan Vegas, Nicolai Hojgaard
1610: Mike Weir, Michael Kim, Cameron Young
1621: Zach Johnson, Joe Highsmith, Chris Kirk
1638: Danny Willett, Nico Echavarria, Davis Thompson
1649: Bernhard Langer, Will Zalatoris, Noah Kent (a)
1700: Cameron Smith, J.T. Poston, Aaron Rai
1711: Fred Couples, Harris English, Taylor Pendrith
1722: Corey Conners, Brian Harman, Stephan Jaeger
1733: Patrick Reed, Max Greyserman, Byeong Hun An
1750: Robert MacIntyre, Billy Horschel, Nick Dunlap
1801: Collin Morikawa, Joaquin Niemann, Min Woo Lee
1812: Phil Mickelson, Jason Day, Keegan Bradley
1823: Scottie Scheffler, Justin Thomas, Jose Luis Ballester (a)
1834: Jordan Spieth, Tom Kim, Tyrrell Hatton
1845: Tony Finau, Maverick McNealy, Thomas Detry
TV channel: All four days of the Masters are being televised live in the UK on Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports Main Event, though as usual viewing is restricted early on.
Featured group coverage usually begins at 2pm BST on Thursday and Friday, and 3pm on Saturday and Sunday. Full coverage is available from 7pm on Thursday and Friday, and 6:30pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Live stream: Sky Sports subscribers will be able to watch all the action online via the Sky Go app.
(Bar 40/1, odds via Betfair and subject to change.)
Favourite: Scottie Scheffler is the defending Masters champion
Getty Images
Masters 2025 field in full

Target: Rory McIlroy is going for the career Grand Slam at Augusta once again
Getty Images

Contender: Bryson DeChambeau
AP

Training: Shane Lowry
REUTERS