Rose Relishes New Masters Opportunity Without Added Pressure

Justin Rose claims he doesn't feel any additional pressure to make up 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 losing to Rory McIlroy in a playoff, Rose is once again in contention for a major victory, thanks to opening rounds of 70 and 69. He believes his past near-misses have taught him a valuable lesson, saying, 'It's a lesson that I can win here.' Rose expressed his satisfaction with being in contention, stating, 'It's a continuation of being on the leaderboard here, keeping the dream alive, and continuing to enjoy this great tournament.' He also emphasized the importance of maintaining a positive mindset, saying, 'I feel no added pressure or expectation because of what happened last year. I just always enjoy competing here.' Rose recovered from a difficult start to post four birdies in a five-hole stretch, eventually finishing five under par. He reflected on his game plan, saying, 'I thought I actually executed the game plan pretty well today.' Fellow Englishman Tyrrell Hatton also made a significant move up the leaderboard with a six-under 66, despite a bogey on the final hole. Hatton acknowledged the challenges of the course, saying, 'Making seven birdies out there is not an easy thing to do.' World No 1 Scottie Scheffler, on the other hand, struggled with a two-over 74, bogeying both par-fives on the second nine. Scheffler expressed his disappointment, saying, 'I felt like I was really challenging. I played really pretty well. Today I felt like I played a lot better than my score.'