AUGUSTA, Georgia, April 9 (Reuters) - Justin Rose made ⁠a strong return to the Masters in his first round at Augusta National since last year's ⁠playoff heartbreak, but a late stumble left him three shots off the lead on Thursday.

The Englishman, ‌runner-up at Augusta in 2025 after losing a playoff to Rory McIlroy, carded a two-under-par 70 to sit level with a group that included Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele and Shane Lowry.