Justin Rose of Britain watches his shot
on the 2nd tee during the first round of the 2007 Masters golf tournament
at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, April 5,
2007.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
WASHINGTON, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Last-chance qualifier Justin Rose and U.S. debutante Brett Wetterich were unlikely leaders after Thursday's first round of the 71st Masters with Tiger Woods among many frustrated favorites in Georgia of United States.
England's Rose made only 20 putts in a three-under
par 69 round to solve an Augusta National Golf Club course that is unsoftened by
rain for the first time since 1997 and has never been firmer or faster since
being lengthened in 2002.
World number one Woods searched in vain for answers,
making bogeys at 17 and 18 to finish on one-over par 73 for a disappointing
start to his bid for a 13th major title, third major crown in a row and fifth
career green jacket.
Woods, whose first major victory came here a decade
ago, has still never broken 70 in the opening round at the Masters. He birdied
the par-5 13th and 15th holes but had a bogey at the par-4 seventh in addition
to his poor finish.
Augusta National also sent reigning champion Phil
Mickelson, US Open winner Geoff Ogilvy and South African Ernie Els stumbling off
the pace. Ogilvy managed a 75, Mickelson and Scotsman Colin Montgomerie were on
76. Els slid to a 78.
Rose, trying to become Europe's first major champion
since Scotsman Paul Lawrie won the 1999 British Open, missed seven of the past
eight majors and qualified for 2007's first major only by ranking in last week's
world top 50.
BEIJING, April 5 (Xinhuanet) -- It was 10 years ago -- how time flies -- that
a rising golf star named Tiger Woods "mastered" Augusta on the way to becoming
the youngest Masters champion, smoking the field by 12 shots on the way to
establishing 20 Masters records and winning his first green jacket with a
record-breaking 18-under-par score. Full story
Print
