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Short game delights Rose

06/04/2007

England's Justin Rose was delighted after finding himself at the top of the leaderboard at the end of the first day's play at the US Masters.

Rose said his short game around the tricky Augusta greens was accountable for his lofty position in the tournament.

He said: "Statistics don't always tell the story. On more than one occasion, I felt like I was ten or 12 feet from the pin putting for birdie but on the fringe.

"Certainly, my short game was unbelievable today and that is why I managed to shoot such a good score and play a bogey-free round."

World number one Tiger Woods was less pleased with his progress on day one after slipping down the leaderboard in the final two holes. Successive bogies meant he finished the day tied for 15th overall on one-over-par.

Woods said: "I went from right there to all of a sudden over-par.

"I battled back and then threw it away. I'm not real happy about that. I just need to get a couple of things organised."

The Masters course is supposed to favour left-handers like defending champion Phil Mickleson, but the American struggled to a score of four-over-par in his first round.

He has not given up hope of retaining his title after rallying in the latter stages of his round, however.

"The wind is making it more difficult. It's because it's a swirling wind - it was affecting even the shortest of shots. If I can shoot a 68 or better, I could get myself back to par and get back in it," Mickelson said.

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