A small brigade of British golfers is leading the charge at Augusta this week. As the Masters Tournament unfolds at the iconic Augusta National in Georgia, many flags on the leaderboard are displaying the red St. George’s cross. With two rounds complete in the prestigious major, an impressive three players high up on the score board hail from Great Britain, setting the stage for a thrilling weekend of national rivalries intertwined with individual competition.
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| The Masters leaderboard on the first day of play |
Leading the charge for the British contingent is Justin Rose. The major champion, who previously conquered the U.S. Open, has shown his comfort on the hallowed Augusta grounds, again. His opening round of 7-under 65 not only matched his personal best at the Masters, but, also, marked the fifth time he has held the outright lead after the first round at Augusta, a remarkable feat and a testament to his experience and ability to get focused early on in tournaments. Astoundingly, he has still never won a green jacket despite all these strong starts. That may change this weekend. Twice before he has finished runner-up, but Rose's strong performance this time around (he is still in the lead after round 2) indicates a determined bid by the Englishman to win the title this year. In addition to a US Open title, Rose also holds an Olympic gold medal in golf, an achievement many consider on par with a fifth major title.
Rose was born in South Africa in 1980 and he moved with his family to England at five years old. He took up golf at an early age. With the loss of his mother to cancer, Justin threw himself into the distraction of golf. His skill as a amateur golfer grew and his first breakout moment was as a teenager at the 1998 British Open when he holed a dramatic shot from the rough from about 50 yards for birdie on the 18th hole. He finished that major in a tie for fourth and won the medal for low amateur that year. The day after his success at the 1998 Open Championship, Rose turned pro. Initially. he struggled in his pro career and missed the cut in his first 21 consecutive events. He ultimately had to revisit qualifying school, and played in numerous non-PGA events around the world, like on the Sunshine Tour in South Africa. By 2003, Rose had earned enough prize money to claim his PGA Tour card as a non-member for 2004. But he struggled for his initial years on the PGA Tour too, and he had to wait until 2007 for another real breakthrough when he achieved a fifth place finish at the Masters that year. His world ranking jumped to 26 in April 2007 as a result. Since then he has had many successes as a professional and even received recognition by the monarchy back in Britain. In 2017 he became a Member of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in recognition for his “services to golf”, a well deserved reward for a late bloomer and a true gentleman of the game.
Fellow Brit, Rory McIlroy, is another prominent figure near the top of the Masters leaderboard this week. A former world number one and a four-time major champion – having secured victories at the U.S. Open, PGA Championship (twice), and The Open Championship – McIlroy is undeniably one of the game's best players. Unlike Rose, he was not a late bloomer. McIlroy’s career flourished early on, from around 2011 to 2014 he was unstoppable. Remarkably, he stands alongside legends Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as one of only three players to win four majors before the age of 25. Introduced to golf as a toddler by his father, McIlroy's journey was supported by significant sacrifices from his parents. While the Masters remains the missing piece in his career grand slam, his near-miss in 2022, where he finished runner-up to Scottie Scheffler, demonstrates his capability to contend at Augusta. Nicklaus himself once lauded McIlroy's "unbelievable talent," suggesting he had the potential to win a large number of major championships, perhaps more than anyone else in golf. That hasn’t happened, and sadly won't, but Rory can still achieve a career grand slam by winning the Masters. Nobody wants it more than he does.
Completing the trio of British contenders in Augusta this weekend is the tenacious Tyrrell Hatton. Known for his exceptional ball-striking, Hatton has carved out a successful career on both the European and PGA Tours, like his fellow UK golfers. His best Masters performance to date was a tie for ninth in 2024, and his current form suggests he is poised for another strong showing. Hatton is only 33 years old and now competes on the LIV Golf tour since 2024. He brings a fiery and determined edge to his pursuit of a major title. Hatton's connection to the golf course began practically at birth. Just 13 months old when he first gripped a club, the Buckinghamshire (West of London) native was navigating the par-3 course at his local club by the tender age of three. This early immersion was fostered by his father, Jeff, who became his lifelong coach. Throughout his career, Hatton has been known for his passionate demeanor on the course. He believes his early competitive experiences, often playing alongside his parents, may have instilled this intense approach. Behind the intense competitor is a supportive personal life, anchored by his wife, Emily Braisher. Emily was a constant and vocal social media presence on the PGA tour for years. The couple gained viral notoriety for a humorous incident at the 2019 Italian Open, where the sound of Emily slamming a portable toilet door hilariously interrupted her own husband’s backswing. Maybe doing it again will bring Tyrrell the luck he needs.
To put this British three-man charge into historical context, one would have to mention the man who preceded them all, the legendary Nick Faldo. While no longer competing professionally, Faldo's three Masters victories stand as the pinnacle of British success at Augusta. Nick was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame and is widely regarded as the greatest English golfer of all time. Nick Faldo was also appointed as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1988, then he was made a Knight Bachelor in 2009. Hence, in England, he is now addressed as Sir Nick Faldo. (A Knight ranks above an OBE. For example, it’s Mr. Justin Rose OBE, not Sir Justin Rose, for now).
As the weekend unfolds in Georgia, the golfing world will be watching with anticipation to see if one of these talented British players can don the coveted green jacket and add their name to the illustrious list of Masters champions. The strong early showing over the first 36 holes suggests that one of these gents may be ready to make their impact felt at this year's tournament. But, to actually win the Masters, one of these Brits will have to defeat the American duo of Bryson DeChambeau and Scottie Scheffler in the process. And those guys don’t play for anything but a love of the game and a desire to be the best they can be.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPmO8oxTXBk
Author's note: Rory McIlroy won the 2025 Masters in a playoff with Justin Rose. This means the British player has completed the career grand slam by winning all four majors. He joins a small group of golfers - four Americans and one South African - to have ever done this. They are Gene Sarazen (7 major wins from 1922-35), Ben Hogan (9 wins from 1946-53), Gary Player (9 majors 1959-78), Jack Nicklaus (18 wins 1962-86), Tiger Woods (15 wins 1997-2019), and, now, Rory McIlroy (5 major wins from 2011-25).
