Augusta (US): Top-ranked Justin Rose and in-form Paul Casey endured nightmare starts Thursday at the Masters while Ian Poulter, who last won a year ago, championed England’s cause at Augusta National.
Rose, in his first round since retaking the world number one spot from American Dustin Johnson Monday, stumbled to a three-over par 75, his second-worst start in 14 Masters appearance.
Casey, who defended his US PGA Valspar Championship crown last month, stood next to last in the field of 87 on 81, with double bogeys at the fifth and 18th holes in a horrow show, his worst of 43 career Masters rounds.
Poulter birdied three of the last six holes to fire a four-under par 68 and share fourth with second-ranked Johnson after 18 holes at the year’s first major event.
The 43-year-old Englishman, whose last win came last April in Houston, birdied the par-5 13th and 15th holes and the par-3 16th to finish two strokes adrift of US co-leaders Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau.
European Ryder Cup hero Poulter, ranked 32nd, made his best Masters showing in 2015 with a share of sixth.
AFP