Justin Rose Leads at Masters as Big Names Close In

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Justin Rose is holding on to the top spot at the Masters, but things are heating up fast at Augusta National. With some of golf’s biggest stars right behind him, this weekend is shaping up to be an exciting ride.

Rose, a 44-year-old from England, finished Friday with a 1-under 71. That puts him at 8-under overall. He’s been playing steady golf and used strong putting on the front nine to stay ahead, even as the wind picked up later in the day.

But his lead is far from safe.

The Chasers: DeChambeau, McIlroy, and Scheffler

Bryson DeChambeau is just one shot behind after shooting a 68 on Friday. He was the only golfer with back-to-back rounds under 70. DeChambeau wowed the crowd early by sinking a tough bunker shot for birdie on the 4th hole. His strong iron play and sharp putting are helping him stay in the race.

“This is what golf is all about,” DeChambeau said. “So many big names up there. It’s going to be a great test.”

Then there’s Rory McIlroy, who bounced back in a big way. After a rough finish in the first round, he returned with a brilliant, bogey-free 66. He caught fire on the back nine, including a gutsy eagle on the par-5 13th. That shot brought him right back into contention and kept his dream of a career Grand Slam alive.

“I had to remind myself that I was still playing good golf,” McIlroy said. “You can’t let a couple bad holes change the way you see things.”

Defending champion Scottie Scheffler started strong with 24 holes without a single bogey. But the wind made things tough, and he slipped a little with five bogeys over the last 12 holes. Still, his 71 keeps him only three shots behind Rose.

Despite the setback, Scheffler stayed positive.

“We’ve got a great course, good weather ahead, and some top players battling it out,” he said. “It’s going to be a fun weekend.”

Tight at the Top

In total, 16 players are within five shots of the lead. Nine of them are major champions, and three have already won at Augusta. The pressure is on for Rose, who knows what it takes to win but hasn’t claimed a green jacket yet. This is his third time holding the 36-hole lead at the Masters.

“The leaderboard is full of world-class players,” Rose said. “To win, you’ve got to go out there and want it. You’ve got to fight for it.”

Also among the leaders is Corey Conners from Canada, who quietly put together a solid 70 to match McIlroy at 6-under. Shane Lowry and Tyrrell Hatton are also right there. Hatton was just one shot behind Rose at one point before two frustrating three-putts slowed him down.

A Special Effort from Dunlap

One of the most surprising stories came from 21-year-old Nick Dunlap. After shooting a painful 90 on Thursday, he came back on Friday with an incredible 71—an improvement of 19 shots! That’s one of the biggest turnarounds in Masters history.

Though he still missed the cut at 17-over, Dunlap stayed proud.

“I’ve never felt as nervous before starting a round,” he said. “But I’m proud I stayed in it and finished under par.”

He’s been struggling with his game recently, especially his driver, but his determination was clear. After Thursday’s nightmare, he even went back to his Airbnb and kept practicing. His trainer picked up a variety of golf balls so he could keep working.

“I’m a competitor,” Dunlap said. “This game is tough, but I’m not giving up.”

Looking Ahead to the Weekend

With Rose leading and top names like DeChambeau, McIlroy, and Scheffler just behind, the Masters weekend is set for drama. Rose, who won the U.S. Open in 2013, is aiming for another major title late in his career. If he wins, he’d be the second-oldest Masters winner, after Jack Nicklaus.

Meanwhile, the fans at Augusta can look forward to an action-packed weekend filled with big swings, clutch putts, and maybe a few surprises.

As Rose said, “This is the company I expect to keep—and I love being back in the mix.”