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• Rose using the claw grip for the first time
• Said it was ‘too good’ not to try out
• ‘It was a gamble worth taking,’ he said

THE MASTERS | Justin Rose

Justin Rose has said his decision to move to a ‘claw’ grip with the putter was not one he took lightly.

Rose moved to the grip last week after “stumbling across it” and said he made the change immediately.

The Englishman, chasing his second major, opened his Masters account with a three-under 69.

“The putting grip was a big change for me,” said Rose. “I have adopted the claw grip which is becoming more popular on tour. I stumbled across it last week on my week off and it just felt too good to deny it. I second-guessed it a few times last week but it stayed true and I putted well today.

“It wasn’t a decision I took lightly to change the grip. I have putted okay this year but I feel if I am going to win the Masters I am going to have to putt great. I just felt in practice that it could benefit me. It was a gamble but I felt it was one worth taking.”

Referring to Jordan Spieth’s blistering 66, Rose said he was “surprised” to see so many good scores on what was a gusty Augusta National and warned that conditions weren’t going to get much easier. “The forecast is similar for the next couple of days so it was nice to get a decent round when the course was somewhat softer because it’s going to be really tough over the next few days.

Justin Rose – Good start a ‘bonus’

“A good start is a bonus – it’s a bad start that you don’t want. Even if your game isn’t clicking at a major if you can get it round in around even par on the first day then you can have something to build on. To shoot in the 60s in the first round of the Masters is always a good start.”

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Bryce Ritchie is the Editor of bunkered and, in addition to leading on content and strategy, oversees all aspects of the brand. The first full-time journalist employed by bunkered, he joined the company in 2001 and has been editor since 2009. A member of Balfron Golfing Society, he currently plays off nine and once got a lesson from Justin Thomas’ dad.

Editor of bunkered

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