Justin Rose threw down the gauntlet on his closest rivals by charging ahead with a sensational first round 10-under-par 62 after the early morning session at the Indonesian Masters on Thursday.
The world number six took advantage of the benign early conditions to power his way to the top at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club. Rose opened with a birdie on his opening par-four 10. He then issued his statement of intent by heading towards the turn with four birdies in five holes for an outward 31.
The Olympic Gold medalist continued to impress by firing another five birdies on holes two, three, four, six and nine for a 62, which could have been a course record if not for the preferred lie ruling, which was in force.
‘That is a dream start to be honest with you. I birdied the first hole. I felt comfortable from the outset. I did all the right things today I suppose, I put the ball in play from the tee.
‘Obviously with ball in hand and placing the ball on the fairway, you had a perfect lie for every shot providing you put the ball in the fairway. So that is what I did well and was able to take advantage.’
‘This course, the way it is today, it is there for the taking. Obviously there was no wind, it was perfect golf conditions,’ said Rose.
South Africa’s Dylan Frittelli could not match Rose’s early excellence as he struggled to an opening 76. Needing to finish in the top 10 to secure a place in the top 50, and with it a place at The Masters, the two-time European Tour winner opened with a bogey before a triple on the par 3 fourth saw him fall rapidly down the leaderboard.
Another bogey followed on the fifth before a mini-revival around the turn saw him gain two shots back. A bogey on the 16th was erased with a closing bogey but, barring a second round miracle, he will not be ending his brilliant year with a place at Augusta.
