Rose Relaxed in Masters Bid After Shaking Off Last Year's Disappointment

Justin Rose remains unfazed by the pressure to make amends for last year's agonizing play-off loss at The Masters, as he surged into contention at the halfway stage at Augusta National. A year after falling short to Rory McIlroy, Rose is once again vying for a major victory following rounds of 70 and 69. Despite a difficult finish to the first round, Rose reflected that his past near-misses serve as a valuable lesson that he has the capability to win at The Masters. He carded five birdies and two bogeys to set an early target in the clubhouse on Friday. Rose expressed his satisfaction, stating that being in contention is a continuation of his strong performances at the tournament, and he is savoring the experience. He emphasized that he feels no added pressure due to last year's outcome and is instead focusing on enjoying the competition and feeding off the positive energy from the crowd. Rose recovered from an initial bogey to post four birdies in a five-hole stretch and eventually finished five under. He attributed his success to executing his game plan effectively and maintaining patience during challenging periods. Fellow Englishman Tyrrell Hatton also made a significant move up the leaderboard with a six-under 66, despite a late bogey. Hatton acknowledged the positives in his round, including seven birdies, and expressed his intention to remain patient and focused over the weekend. World No 1 Scottie Scheffler, however, struggled with a two-over 74, bogeying both par-fives on the second nine. Scheffler reflected on his round, stating that he played better than his score suggests, but was hindered by a slow start and a few missed opportunities.