It paid off for Justin Rose, Trevor Immelman and Ian Poulter, Orlando neighbors, to divvy up the plane fare to come up here for a couple days two weeks ago. They played practice rounds together and just got used to Augusta National.
And they are neighbors on the leader board now Rose and Immelman are tied for the lead at 4-under par, having each shot 68 in the first round of the Masters. Poulter upstaged everyone by getting a hole-in-one on No. 16 that put him in the lead at 3-under. He finished at 2-under, right in the hunt.
Rose spoke for the group when he said that their two-day foray took the edge off their preparation this week. He said he was "Itching" to go on Monday, instead of just trying to feel his way.