Rory McIlroy told nightmare finish to first round of 2025 Masters 'typical'

Rory McIlroy received his fair share of criticism from golf fans on X after he squandered a good opening round at the 2025 Masters.

McIlroy made a fast start to the first men's major of the year at Augusta National on Thursday.

The Northern Irishman played his first nine holes without dropping a shot and put circles on his scorecard at the third, eighth and ninth holes. 

Another birdie at the par-5 13th saw McIlroy sitting pretty in a share for second place before disaster struck at the 15th. 

McIlroy split the fairway with his tee shot and sent a towering iron shot into the heart of the green but watched his golf ball roll off the back edge.

He waited more than three minutes to play his third shot which, in the end, was far too aggressive and ended in the water. 

It led to a double bogey seven. And he followed that with two more dropped shots at the 17th after missing the green long with a 9-iron in hand and misjudging his greenside chip. 

McIlroy was fortunate to escape the 18th with a par after he carved his tee shot into the pine straw. 

An opening round of level par 72 will disappoint McIlroy given the manner of his start.

This is his 17th appearance at The Masters and 11th attempt to complete the career grand slam. 

"How to lose The Masters in a three-hole span," one golf fan wrote on X.

Another added: "Rory McIlroy needs a new caddie. He obviously takes zero input from his friend."

England's Justin Rose leads The Masters

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Rose threatened to break the Augusta course record on the opening day. 

The Englishman, 44, carded a 7-under 65 to lead by three from Ludvig Aberg, Corey Conners and reigning champion Scottie Scheffler. 

Bryson DeChambeau, Tyrrell Hatton, Akshay Bhatia, Aaron Rai and Jason Day are also inside the top-10.

Rose told reporters he believes his career is having an Indian Summer. 

Last July, he played in the final group at The Open but was pipped to the claret jug by Xander Schauffele. 

Rose also contended at the 2024 US PGA Championship at Valhalla. 

He said those near misses were evidence that he can still compete on the big stage and still compete with the best players in the world. 

"If you know that in your head, that gives you the motivation to then still work hard," he said.  

"If you don't quite feel like you can do it, or you don't feel quite like you can play at an elite level, then practice becomes hard."