Rose takes off at the start of the Augusta Masters against a solid Scheffler

England's Justin Rose took the Augusta Masters lead Thursday with an exceptional first round that gave him a three-stroke lead over American Scottie Scheffler, the top favorite to don his third championship green jacket.

Rose, twice runner-up in this traditional golf tournament, a member of the Grand Slam (2015 and 2017), signed a card of 65 strokes, seven under par, which equaled his best performance at Augusta National (Georgia) and at times threatened the course record, set at 63 strokes.

"I've played a lot of golf here so to match my best score is certainly an achievement for me," said the 44-year-old Englishman.

"I think I've played well enough to win this tournament, but I don't have the jacket to prove it," acknowledged Rose, who has led the Masters five times after an opening round.

Winner of the 2013 U.S. Open, Rose had a shot at winning at Augusta in 2017 in a playoff that he lost to Spain's Sergio Garcia.

This Thursday, the Rio de Janeiro-2016 Olympic champion strung together eight birdies without committing any bogey until the final hole.

With this display he opened a small gap with respect to Scottie Scheffler, who finished in 68 strokes (-4) in a bogey-free round.

"Anytime you can keep a clean card here, it's a really good thing," the world number one congratulated himself.

Unflappable as usual, Scheffler has a chance to join the legendary Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Nick Faldo on Sunday as the only people to have strung together back-to-back titles at Augusta.

Scheffler walked out of the field sharing second place with Canada's Corey Conners and Sweden's Ludvig Aberg, one of the most promising players at age 25.

Disappointing Rahm

American Bryson DeChambeau, reigning U.S. Open champion, and fellow LIV Golf Tour member Tyrrell Hatton shared fifth place with 69 strokes (-3) on a sunny day with a course in excellent condition.

Worse luck went to Jon Rahm, another of the 12 representatives of LIV Golf, the Saudi Arabian-funded circuit and fierce rival of the U.S. PGA.

The Spaniard, champion in 2023, had a sluggish start with 75 strokes, (+3), which put him in 63rd place and could put him on track for another struggle to make the cut like last year.

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, another contender, was going full speed ahead with a -4 record when he lost focus with a pair of double bogeys in the last four holes that left him with a card of 72 strokes (par).

With the same result finished Chilean Joaquín Niemann and Spaniard Sergio García, who is competing in the 100th Grand Slam tournament of his career.

For the Latin American delegation, Colombia's Nico Echavarría closed the round in 38th place with 73 (+1) and Venezuela's Jhonattan Vegas in 63rd with 75 (+3).

Argentine veteran Angel Cabrera, the 2009 champion, finished with 75 strokes (+3) in his controversial return to Augusta after spending two years in prison for domestic violence.

The anecdote of the day came from Spanish rookie José Luis Ballester, 21.

In the middle of the competition, Ballester felt the need to go to the bathroom when he was around the 13th hole and chose to urinate in the famous Rae's Creek canal with his back to the fans, who gave him a huge ovation.

"It was probably one of the loudest cheers I've received today, so it was fun," said the Spaniard without showing any remorse. "It wasn't embarrassing for me at all. If I had to do it again, I would do it again."