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Investigates Investigates Money Diaries Daft.ie Property Magazine Allianz Home Magazine The 42 Sports Magazine The Journal TV Climate Crisis Cost of Living Road Safety Newsletters Temperature Check Inside the Newsroom The Journal Investigates The Explainer A deep dive into one big news story Sport meets news, current affairs, society & pop culture have your say Or create a free account to join the discussion Advertisement More Stories Rory McIlroy after finishing his first round at the Masters.Alamy Stock Photo Two double-bogeys prove costly for McIlroy at Masters as Lowry finishes with important birdie Justin Rose is the current leader after a scintillating 65. 12.19am, 11 Apr 2025 Share options RORY MCILROY ENDURED a disappointing run to the finish of his first round at the Masters, falling from four-under to even par with an uninspiring 72. Follow the latest Masters first round leaderboard here Double-bogeys on the 15th and 17th were McIlroy’s undoing in what was otherwise a steady performance on the first day at Augusta. McIlroy, who was among the late starters in the first round, put himself in a strong position with three birdies on the front nine, two of which came just before the turn. He birdied again on the 13th to keep him in touch with the leader Justin Rose who has stormed to the summit with a scorching seven-under par 65. Before making the turn, Rory McIlroy cards a birdie on No. 9 to reach three under par. #themasters pic.twitter.com/jGOkrkIpD0— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 10, 2025 But McIlroy’s round unravelled on the Par five 15th. An attempted chip on the green ran out over the edge and into the drink. After taking the drop, his second effort ended up on the edge of the green and a double-bogey was the best he could manage from there. He parred the next hole, but regressed again on the 17th with another double-bogey on a Par 4. Seven shots off the lead is a punishing end to a day that started with such promise. Shane Lowry, who was also out with the late starters, finished one shot better than McIlroy. He started with a bogey on the third but three birdies on the fourth, eighth and ninth brought him to two-under heading into the back nine. He was back to even par after bogeys on the 10th and 17th but a crucial birdie on the last hole will surely leave him feeling energised for the second round. Advertisement Rose flirted with the Augusta National course record of 63, clenching his fist in celebration after draining a 19-foot birdie putt at the 16th to reach eight-under. Wayward drives left him in the trees at 17 and 18 and after salvaging one par, Rose closed with his first bogey of the day at the last. He’s three strokes clear of Scottie Scheffler, Canadian Corey Conners and Ludvig Aberg. “Everything was going exactly where I was looking,” Rose said, adding that his 25-foot birdie at the first was “exactly what you need to settle yourself into the Masters. “It was a really good day’s golf on a golf course that was a stern test,” Rose said. “I think if you look at the overall leaderboard, not many low scores out there.” US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau and his LIV Golf colleague Tyrrell Hatton of England shared fifth on three-under-par 69. Jason Day, Harris English, Aaron Rai and Akshay Bhatia were a further stroke back on 70. Additional reporting by – © AFP 2025 Written by Sinead Farrell and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won’t find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women’s sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here. 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