Rose Relaxed in Masters Bid Despite Past Heartbreak

Justin Rose remains unfazed by the pressure to make amends for last year's playoff loss at The Masters, as he makes a strong push for the title at Augusta National. A year after narrowly missing out to Rory McIlroy, Rose is once again in contention for a major victory, following rounds of 70 and 69 in the first two rounds. Rose believes his past experiences have taught him that he can win at The Masters, and he is drawing on that confidence to drive his current challenge. Despite a bogey-bogey finish to the first round, Rose mixed five birdies with two bogeys to set the early clubhouse target on Friday. He expressed his satisfaction with being in contention, stating that it feels like a continuation of being on the leaderboard and keeping his dream alive. Rose insists that he feels no added pressure due to last year's outcome and is instead focusing on enjoying the competition and the support of the crowd. He aims to maintain a controlled and focused approach while keeping his game 'fun, light, and aggressive.' The former world No 1 recovered from an opening-hole bogey to post four birdies in a five-hole stretch, eventually finishing five under. Rose reflected on his game plan, acknowledging that he executed it well despite some tricky moments. He credited his patience and ability to stay focused as key factors in his performance. Fellow Englishman Tyrrell Hatton also made a significant move up the leaderboard with a six-under 66, posting seven birdies before carding his only bogey at the last. Hatton was pleased with his performance, recognizing the challenges of making seven birdies at Augusta. World No 1 Scottie Scheffler, on the other hand, struggled with a two-over 74, bogeying both par-fives on the second nine. Scheffler felt that he played better than his score suggested, but was hindered by a slow start and some missed opportunities.