A precise Justin Rose tamed a windy Augusta National to hold a four-shot lead after the first round of the Masters on Thursday while defending champion Dustin Johnson was among a number of top players who struggled in challenging conditions.

Rose, twice a Masters runner-up, had done little to excite the spectators on hand as he was two over after seven holes, but went on a scorching run to card a seven-under-par 65 that marked his career low at Augusta National.

That left the 40-year-old Englishman four shots clear of Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama and American Brian Harman. Former champion Patrick Reed and 2012 US Open winner Webb Simpson were among a pack of four golfers a further shot off the lead.

“I felt like the conditions today were not the day to go hit them and have your personal best out there,” said Rose.

Hole-in-one

Tommy Fleetwood on Thursday recorded a hole-in-one for the second straight event, this time at the 16th hole.

Fleetwood took dead aim with a nine-iron in the late afternoon calm and fired at the pin from 170 yards.

His ball landed a few paces in front of the flag and never looked like going anywhere but the bottom of the cup.

The Englishman flung his arms in the air in celebration as the handful of spectators on hand roared.

“It was a lovely looking shot ... a couple of bounces and in,” Fleetwood said after a two-over-par 74 that trailed Rose by nine shots.