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Rose and Immelman share lead

Woods labours to stay in touch; Jeev joint 11th

— Photo: AFP

BOUNCING BACK: Britain’s Justin Rose shrugged off two early bogeys to be in joint lead after the first round.

AUGUSTA (U.S.): Britain’s Justin Rose reeled off six birdies in eight holes to share the lead after the first round at the U.S. Masters while Tiger Woods laboured to stay in touch on Thursday.

Rose, who led after the first two rounds in 2004, shrugged off two early bogeys to fire a four-under 68 in bright sunshine on a soft Augusta National layout playing extra long.

The 27-year-old launched his sizzling run at the par-three sixth before ending the day level with South African Trevor Immelman.

World No. 1 and four times champion Woods, seeking his 14th major title, parred the first 12 holes before going bogey, bogey, eagle on his way to an opening 72.

Rose delighted

Rose, who tied for fifth at last year’s Masters, was delighted to rebound from his faltering start.

“I didn’t feel that comfortable out there on the course but I made a great swing into six, hit it to five or six feet,” he said.

Woods, who has set his sights on becoming the first professional to achieve a calendar slam of the four majors, scrambled to stay level after 12 holes before bogeying 13 and 14.

Four strokes behind

However, he chipped in from behind the green to eagle the par-five 15th before parring the last three holes to finish four strokes off the pace.

“I didn’t really get anything going my way today,” the 32-year-old American said.

“I played a lot better than what my score indicates. I hit a lot of good putts, nothing really went. I just had to stay patient out there.

“The way the golf course plays now, you don’t really shoot low rounds here any more. You’ve just got to plod along.

“It’s playing more like a U.S. Open than it is a Masters.”

Britain’s Ian Poulter spectacularly aced the par-three 16th on his way to an opening 70 in his fourth Masters appearance.

The 32-year-old Poulter holed out with an eight-iron from 169 yards to get to three-under before slipping back with a bogey-par finish.

Among the other big names, twice Masters champion Phil Mickelson and twice U.S. Open winner Retief Goosen opened with 71s.

Fiji’s Vijay Singh, the 2000 champion, carded a 72 while Ireland’s Padraig Harrington, winner of last year’s British Open, opened with a 74.

India’s Jeev Milkha Singh outscored most of his illustrious peers, including Woods, to be tied 11th after a sound opening round of one-under 71.

The seasoned Indian professional blossomed on the par-five holes and fired four birdies to atone for the bogey treble that at one stage threatened to mar his card.

Jeev plays it safe

Jeev shunned extravagance and played safe and was rewarded for his sedate approach with birdies on the second, seventh, 13th and 15th as against the bogeys on the fourth, ninth and 14th.

With a solid opening round, Jeev joined a group of seven who trail leaders Rose and Immelman by three shots. “I drove the ball really well and hit it at the right places.

“I made a few mistakes but I think you’re allowed a few on this course,” Jeev said, looking back at his impressive opening round.

The scores (first round):

68: Justin Rose (GBR), Trevor Immelman (RSA).

69: Brian Bateman (USA), Brandt Snedeker (USA), Lee Westwood (GBR).

70: Ian Poulter (GBR), Robert Karlsson (Swe), Zach Johnson (USA), Stephen Ames (Can), Jim Furyk (USA).

71: Heath Slocum (USA), Mark O’Meara (USA), Peter Lonard (Aus), Arron Oberholser (USA), Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind), Paul Casey (GBR), Retief Goosen (RSA), Phil Mickelson (USA).

72: Justin Leonard (USA), Robert Allenby (Aus), Jerry Kelly (USA), Tiger Woods (USA), Johnson Wagner (USA), Steve Flesch (USA), Boo Weekley (USA), Sean O’Hair (USA), Sandy Lyle (Sco), Daniel Chopra (Swe), Vijay Singh (Fij), Stewart Cink (USA), Andres Romero (Arg), K.J. Choi (Kor). — Agencies

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