2025 Masters Day 1: Rory McIlroy melts down, Scottie Scheffler eyes history and Justin Rose unleashes

World No.1 Scottie Scheffler has an extraordinary slice of history in his sights - but even he trails a surprise leader. And then it was all about Rory McIlroy and his late-day meltdown.

The great Jack Nicklaus called it before a ball was even hit in anger on the first morning of the Masters.

The problem with Rory McIlroy, Nicklaus said, is that every now and then an “eight or a seven pops up” on his scorecard keeping him from “getting to where he needs to go”.

McIlroy, 35, was cruising at four-under in the opening round at Augusta National before disaster struck at the par-five 15th hole.

For the first time, the only place to watch the Masters live is Fox Sports, available on Kayo Sports and Foxtel.

The Northern Irishman inexplicably overcooked a chip and rolled it into the pond, carding a shocking double-bogey seven.

He followed it with another double at 17, finishing seven shots behind first-round leader Justin Rose (65).

The Masters has long eluded McIlroy, the one win he needs to join golf’s legendary grand slam club.

It all went pear-shaped for Rory McIlroy. Picture: Getty

Prior to the error, it was looking like McIlroy and world No.1 Scottie Scheffler, the best two players of the post-Tiger era, might finally go head-to-head down the final stretch of a major championship.

Scheffler (who shot 68) is chasing a remarkable third green jacket in just four years, something only Nicklaus - a six-time Masters champion - ever achieved.

Trouble-free Thursdays are vital at Augusta with seven of the last eight winners coming from inside the top four after the opening round.

Tiger Woods (in 2019) is the only player this century to come from outside the top 10 to go on to win the tournament.

Scottie Scheffler has a slice of history in his sights. Picture: Getty

Nicklaus revealed after his ceremonial tee shot to open the 89th Masters that he had lunch with McIlroy last week to discuss strategy at Augusta.

The Northern Irishman has failed to salute in 16 previous attempts.

“I think it’s about time that Rory won and I sat down with him last week,” Nicklaus said.

“I said ‘I know you prepared for Augusta, tell me how you’re going to play the golf course’.

“We went through it shot for shot, we got done with the round, I didn’t open my mouth and I said ‘I wouldn’t change a thing’.

“That’s exactly the way I would try to play the golf course.

McIlroy’s time to win the Masters is starting to run out, according to Jack Nicklaus. Picture: Getty

“Discipline is what Rory has lacked, in my opinion. He’s got all the shots. He’s got all the game. He certainly is as talented as anybody in the game. But if you look, go back and see his history the last few years, he gets to a place a lot of times, an 8 or a 7 pops up, and that keeps you from getting to where he needs to go.”

Fellow honorary starters at the Masters, Tom Watson and Gary Player, also tipped a breakthrough win for McIlroy.

“I just have a gut feeling that Rory is the guy that’s going to win this week. That’s the bottom line. That’s my gut feeling,” Watson said.

Justin Rose holds a three-stroke lead after the first round. Picture: Getty

Just five players in history - Woods, Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Gary Player and Gene Sarazen - have won all four golf majors.

“He has the best swing in golf without a question,” Player said.

“He’s the fittest golfer. He does a deadlift of 400 pounds. He went to Jack for advice on how to play this golf course. And I think timing in life, he’s had his adversities, his opportunities to win majors and let them slip. I think his time is right.

“There’s no golf course that suits a man better than it does for Rory.”

McIlroy said earlier this week that he’d learnt to live with the “heartbreaks” and “disappointments”, but Thursday’s capitulation was on another level.

Originally published as 2025 Masters Day 1: Rory McIlroy melts down, Scottie Scheffler eyes history and Justin Rose unleashes